At the National Assembly Petition Tribunal hearing in Awka, Senator Victor Umeh of the Labour Party defeats Hon. Dozie Nwankwo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance Party.
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The Labour Party’s (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has congratulated Victor Umeh on his election as the Anambra Central Senate-elect under the party’s platform.
According to media reports, Umeh was among the Senators-elect who obtained Certificates of Return from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Tuesday.
The certificates were handed to the winners of the recently concluded senatorial elections held on February 25 at the National Collation Centre (International Conference Centre) in Abuja by INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu.
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Obi remarked in a tweet on Tuesday evening via his Twitter account that the return of the former National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) to the Senate is well merited.
Given Umhe’s legislative experience, the party, the OBIdient Family, and his running companion, Datti Baba-Ahmed, feel thrilled by his election, according to the former Governor of Anambra State.
Obi stated that the party, as well as Nigerians, will look forward to her dedicated dedication and contribution to nation-building.
Obi, who also shared photos of himself and Umeh wrote, “I wish to convey my very hearty congratulations to @SenVictorUmeh, representing Anambra Central Senatorial Zone. Your return to the Red Chamber is well deserved. The Labour Party, the OBIdient Family, Datti and I, feel elated by your election, given your legislative experience.
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“We look forward to your diligent service and contribution towards nation-building. -PO”
See the photos below.
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Chief Victor Umeh, the Labour Party senatorial candidate for Anambra Central zone in the February 25 general election, has been disqualified by a Federal High Court 1 sitting in Awka.
On Friday, the Federal High Court 1, Awka, presided over by Justice H. A. Nganjiwa, disqualified Umeh for failing to comply with the stipulations of the Electoral Act.
In a three-hour decision, Nganjiwa disqualified Umeh for failing to comply with the rules of the Electoral Act regarding his membership status in the party primary.
The court found that there was no indication that Umeh’s resignation letter to the All Progressives Grand Alliance leadership was ever received by the party.
The court said his name was still in the membership register of APGA as of September 30, 2022 when he contested the party’s primary.
It also said Umeh’s name was not in the membership register of Labour Party as at the June 3, 2022, date of primary of the LP.
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The court therefore declared as null and void the publication of Umeh’s name as a candidate earlier by the Independent National Electoral Commission, as he failed to comply with the relevant provisions of the Electoral Act and the LP constitution.
The court therefore declared the publication as null and void and of no effect.
The court also issued an injunction restraining Umeh from parading himself as the senatorial candidate of LP.
The injunction also prevented the LP from accepting or presenting Umeh as her candidate.
Efforts to get Umeh’s reaction proved abortive as his telephone line indicated switched off. But one of his media aides, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said Umeh was in Achalla for his campaign rally and had switched off his line.
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The removal of Mr. Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate, from his campaign billboard by the Anambra State government has been criticized as both undemocratic and repugnant by Chief Victor Umeh, the party’s candidate for Anambra Central.
The state government has no authority under any current law to regulate electoral processes, according to Umeh, who threatened to sue the state government if the billboards were not restored soon. He claimed that the Independent National Electoral Commission is the only body with the authority to do so (INEC).
Umeh said: ” There is nothing like campaign fees under the electoral law. No state government has a right to impose any fee on any candidate before he could campaign. There is no such law in Nigeria and no such law either in Anambra State passed by the State House of Assembly.
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“If Soludo makes an executive order of humongous fees of N10m, N7m, etc before one could campaign in the state, that’s against democracy. You can’t prevent somebody from campaigning with arbitrary fees.”
Umeh said that he had paid his billboard advertising agency approximately N4 million, and they in turn had paid the ANSAA the necessary payments for outdoor advertisements.
He added, “It is INEC that sets rules for campaigns not state governments. State government doesn’t conduct elections. You can’t tax a candidate of a political party to pay a state government before he can campaign. No other state does that except Soludo’s state. Who did Soludo pay campaign fees to in 2021 when he contested for governorship.
“I have told the advertising agent to write to the state government to restore the billboard because it was a contract signed with them and I paid them full and they paid ANSAA.
“Why should Peter Obi pay N10m to Soludo before he could campaign in Anambra State and Umeh to pay N7m?
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“There should be nothing on the way of any candidate to campaign to look for votes under the Electoral Law. What Soludo is doing is illegal. No government has a right to tax any candidate to pay any money before he can campaign. What he is saying is that if you can’t pay N10m or N7m you can’t campaign after being nominated by your party to contest election for them.
“It’s illegal to tax any candidate by the state government before the candidate begins to campaign. Matters about campaign are regulated by the Independent National Electoral Commission. Government has no hands in regulating political parties’campaigns. No government has a right to place tax on any candidate for campaigning. Campaign is an open and free thing to solicit for vote. Government cannot say that before you campaign for an office you have been properly documented by INEC, you have to pay fees.”
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The Labour Party’s (LP) senatorial candidate for Anambra Central, Senator Victor Umeh, and the party’s presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, had their campaign billboards mounted on the pedestrian flyover near the well-known UNIZIK junction in Awka. However, they have since been removed, allegedly on the order of the Anambra State government.
On Sunday, it was learned that representatives of the Anambra Signage and Advertising Agency, or ANSAA, had also started the process of removing all of the LP billboards from other significant towns and cities in Anambra State and replacing them with APGA ones.
Although the LP claims that the state governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, personally gave the order, the removal has nothing to do with Soludo, according to ANSAA’s managing director, Mr. Tony Ujubuonu.
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An official of LP, who reacted on the development said: “The billboard at UNIZIK Temporary Site Junction was removed on the orders of Soludo. The advert, which was placed by an APCON registered advertising agency, was fully paid for.
“We are aware that Governor Soludo has sworn that he does not want Labour Party advert on strategic places and therefore directed ANSAA to refund the money paid for the advert.
“He has also ordered the removal of the Labour Party advert at the Afor Nnobi Gantry. The advert has been there since October, 2022 and was paid for five months.”
“Soludo said that he does not want Labour Party advert at such strategic places and ordered the Signage Agency to refund the money it received for the advert. He ordered the removal all OBIdient billboards across the state. It’s a direct instruction from him in an APGA meeting Those around asked him not do do that, but he insisted that it must be done.”
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According to Anaedoonline.ng, the state government had previously published a notice informing the public that contenders for the presidency would be required to pay N10m, senators N7m, representatives N5m, and the state House of Assembly N1m as campaign expenses.
The managing director of ANSAA, however, said that whatever was taken down was the consequence of a dispute his organization had with the person who put up the board.
He said: “The bridge was having Labour Party billboard. If you recall, in August, 2022, we sent out a message to all political parties to pay up their campaign fees.
“None of them has paid their own. So most of the political parties that have not paid and have adverts on government assets were removed.
“It has nothing to do with the governor. The governor didn’t give any order. If they said they paid the campaign fees, let them give me the evidence. I should know who paid because I’m the ANSAA MD.
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“They didn’t pay the campaign fees and we spoke to their media heads several times. We informed them about the enforcement and they haven’t paid it, so we decided to take down the adverts
“Anybody that tells you anything about the governor and the billboard is telling you lies. When the advert was removed, government refunded the advertising agency that mounted the advert its money.
“The money was refunded to the agency who owned the board, not to the client.
“We don’t deal directly with the Labour Party, but with the advertising agency that mounted the board.”
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The incumbent national chairman of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Victor Ike Oye, did not acknowledge Senator Victor Umeh’s presence at a gathering in Oye’s Amawbia Community in the state’s Awka South local government area, according to Senator Victor Umeh, the Labour Party’s senatorial candidate for Anambra Central in the general election scheduled for next month. This is allegedly due to the growing support for the LP nationwide.
Umeh, who switched from the APGA to the LP after losing the party’s senate primary, was present to see Professor Lilian Orogbu, the Labour Party candidate for the Awka North/South Federal Constituency, officially confirmed as Ada Di Ebube Ndigbo. Orogbu served as the previous dean of the Faculty of Management Sciences at Nnamdi Azikiwe University.
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Umeh claims that the APGA national chairman disregarded him because he was uneasy about the possibility that the Labour Party would take his political ward on February 25, 2023.
He said: “I am not bothered about anybody’s handshake. There is nothing much to that as I am used to such things in my political carrier.
“I made huge contributions to the party when I was the national chairman of APGA and so, I am not bothered.
“What is important for me now is the mission we have at hand and that is how to solve the leadership problem in Nigeria by electing Mr. Peter Obi as the next President of Nigeria. And nothing can distract us from that mission.”
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Throughout all of the elections, he urged the populace to support Labour Party candidates.
In addition, he underlined the value of honoring individuals, especially women, for their accomplishments while they were still living and exhorted other communities to follow Ngene, Amawbia’s example.
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The Coalition of South East Youth Leaders, COSEYL, has endorsed the Labour Party’s (LP) candidate for Anambra Central senatorial zone, Chief Victor Umeh, saying that the youths want him to speak for the Igbo because of the qualities he possesses.
Mr. Goodluck Ibem, President General of COSEYL, stated in Awka that after a thorough evaluation of all the candidates contesting for the senatorial seat of Anambra Central, the youth arm of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization decided to endorse Senator Umeh of the Labour Party because, according to him, he is the best candidate for the position.
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Ibem said: “Our choice of Senator Victor Umeh is anchored on the fact that when he was sworn-in as the Senator representing Anambra Central by the then Senate President, Dr. Bukola Sakari on 18 January, 2018, from that very day he started defending and working assiduously for his people and the interest of Ndigbo at large. “He was never found wanting as the interest of Igbo nation was his top priority. “He always defended the truth, which pitched him against some powerful political forces that worked against his re-election in 2019.
“Now that we the youths of this nation have woken up from slumber to take over our rightful place in determining who represents us at various public offices, we are only sending those who performed previously in the assignments given to them by the people, and Chief Victor Umeh performed creditably well.
“We make bold to say that a vote For Senator Umeh on 25 February, 2023, is a vote to defend Igbo heritage and interest.
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“He is capable, determined and always ready to make sacrifices for the good and betterment of his people.
“We cannot allow enemies of our democratic institutions to work against a man who is selfless in his service to humanity.
“We as the youth leaders of Igbo nation have watched enough from the background and that is why we are stepping forward this time to ensure that only the right candidates who have the interest of our people at heart will be elected to represent us.
“Chief Victor Umeh is a man of honour whose election into the Senate will bring home quality democracy dividends like good road network and other tangible projects. He will never be part of any conspiracy to undermine the interest of his people.
He was a strong voice when he was in the Senate and his positive contributions on the floor of the Senate is greatly missed.
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“He stands for development, growth and progress and so we have to send him back to continue his good works”.
According to Ibem, Umeh has never been involved in any anti-democratic activities, demonstrating that he is a true democrat.
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Victor Umeh, a former national chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and senatorial candidate for the Labour Party (LP) in Anambra Central, has stated that following the Court of Appeal ruling, the federal government has no justification to hold Nnamdi Kanu.
Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), was cleared of all charges of terrorism by the Court of Appeal in Abuja on Thursday. However, the attorney general of the federation, Abubakar Malami, stated that the court’s decision does not invalidate other charges that were brought against him before he left Nigeria in 2017.
The federal government continues to hold the freedom fighter in custody despite the Court of Appeal’s order.
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But Umeh in an interview with journalists said the federal government has no reason to continue to keep him.
“The news of the Court of Appeal judgement is very soothing and gladdening, in the sense that the federal government of Nigeria has been given a golden opportunity to bring to an end the controversy between IPOB and the federal government of Nigeria.
“When he (Kanu) was brought home from Kenya last year, I was one of those who asked that the matter be given fair judicial adjudication. Along the line, through a suit installed by Kanu, a court in Umuahia quashed the charges against him and ordered that he should be released unconditionally.
“At that time, I had told the federal government to use political solution to the matter, and end the matter and stop the political and security tension, but they did not.
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“Now that the court of appeal has quashed the charges against him, it is trite for the FG to release him and let him go. Already, the United Nations had made an earlier order for the release of Kanu.
“While the UN and the world was waiting for the government to toe that line, the Court of Appeal has also made an order for his release. I don’t think the federal government has any reason to continue to keep him.”
Umeh who also spoke on the press release from the attorney general and minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, which insisted that Kanu had other cases to answer said the recent judgement setting Kanu free was a window for the federal government to embrace peace.
“Someone who is looking for peace should know when God has given him an opening to embrace peace. This judgement by the Court of Appeal is sufficient to end all charges against Nnamdi Kanu and allow him to go. It will also help to solve the security problem in the South East.
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“Every Monday he sit-at-home in the South East, but if they release him now, that will disappear and we will have five working days in a week like others.
“Federal government has nothing to gain by continuing to detain Nnamdi Kanu. If you noticed, tension has dropped recently. Releasing Nnamdi Kanu will not lead to any challenge anymore. It is for the government to rely on this judgement to release him.
“I remember that Igbo leaders went to solicit for the unconditional release and Prof Ben Nwabueze even went on a wheel chair with Chief Mbazulike Amaechi to ask for Kanu’s release, and President Buhari said he did not want to interfere in judicial processes.
“But now, the Court of Appeal has set him free. I believe this is a golden opportunity for Mr president to rely on this judgement to release Kanu, which the UN had earlier called for. I believe if this is done, the country will be better for it, instead of trying to exacerbate the tension by trying to keep him. I believe if they obey the judgement, everyone will be happy.”
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Victor Umeh, a Labour Party (LP) chieftain, stated on Wednesday that, contrary to popular belief, the party is not weak.
He argued that Nigerians have given the Labour Party and its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, overwhelming support, and that the outcome of the 2023 elections will surprise many of their opponents.
He went on to say that some politicians from the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will vote for the LP even if they do not openly identify with the party.
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Umeh, a former National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and now a Labour Party senetorial candidate, stated that 2023 is about saving Nigeria.
According to Anaedoonline.ng, he spoke during Channels Television’s beakfast show, Sunrise Daily.
In his words, “The issue is not about where you belong now. I know that there are people in PDP who will vote for Labour Party. I know that there are people in APC who will vote for Labour Party. What is important is the task of rescuing Nigeria and people don’t believe that this thing can work outside this platform.”
Umeh responded to comments that the Labour Party lacks structures and the recent promise by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) National President, Ayuba Wabba, that the union will mobilize 12 million votes for the party and Obi, saying it is a welcome development that will ultimately aim to make Nigeria better through good leadership.
“It is a structured organisation” and unionists are also suffering, he said.
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Speaking further, Umeh maintained that those belittling the Labour Party are in for a surprise come 2023 and the party has the full support of Nigerians.
“The people are with the (Labour) Party. Look at things going on in Nigeria across the states of the Federation. If you say that the Labour Party is weak in some areas, they spring up a surprise…What is the power of the Labour Party now are the people,” he said.
He went on to say that the Labour Party’s and its candidate’s growing popularity has caused other parties to panic.
Despite the opposition, the party is growing stronger, according to Umeh.
He said: “People from the other parties are now panicky. Initially, they were making loose statements that the party is nothing. Today, Labour Party is their nightmare. Why has it happened? Is Labour Party sharing money? Labour Party is not sharing money.”
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The LP senatorial candidate also stated that Obi is making inroads into the north and will get votes from the region and other parts of the country.
“He (Obi) has been consulting. Mr Peter Obi is one of the most-travelled presidential candidates consulting all zones in the country, meeting people,” Umeh said as he allayed fears.
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Senator Victor Umeh, a prominent member of the Labour Party (LP), has refuted allegations that Peter Obi, the party’s presidential candidate, used public money in his own venture.
According to claims cited by Anaedoonline.ng, the former governor of Anambra allegedly has stock in SABMiller Brewery and that Obi invested state money there.
The LP presidential candidate is charged with using state funds to fraudulently finance the alleged government-owned firm while his business has a stake in the organization.
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In an interview that aired on Tuesday on Channels TV’s Political Paradigm, Senator Umeh denied allegations that the former governor had invested public money in his company.
A share in that company was purchased by Obi’s family company, according to the LP candidate for the Anambra Central Senatorial District, who emphasized that the transaction was lawful.
However, Umeh asserted that South Africans are primarily the owners of the SABMiller Brewery.
He said: “He didn’t invest state funds in his business. He did not. Maybe the state partnered in a business he also has an interest in. It’s a share.
“That his family company bought a share in that company has not made it illegal.
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“The conflict would be if the state fund was diverted to his advantage. There is no conflict in what he did because he doesn’t manage the company.
“The SABMiller Brewery they are talking about, the owners largely are from South Africa.”
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