Umahi, Deputy Appeal Judgement as INEC Awaits Certified True Copy Governor engages 18 senior advocates NBA condemns Umahi’s attack on judge, demands apology Chuks Okocha, Alex Enumah in Abuja and Benjamin Nworie in Abakaliki In an effort to reverse a ruling by the Federal High Court, Abuja, which ordered their removal from
office, Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State and his deputy, Kelechi Igwe, yesterday engaged 18 Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN) to represent them in an appeal against the judgement. Umahi disclosed
this during a solidarity rally held in Abakaliki, the state capital, by supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC). But the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said
it was awaiting the certified true copy of the court judgement. Meanwhile, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), yesterday, rose with indignation against Umahi for making unpleasant comments
about a judge of the Federal High Court. Umahi said he had confidence in the judiciary, but he accused the legal team of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of misleading the judge
of the Federal High Court, who ordered his removal from office. The governor said, "I want to thank Nigerians; I want to thank Continued on page 47
FG Blames Waning Investment, Insecurity for Declining Low Crude Oil Production… Page 6 Thursday 10 March, 2022 Vol 27. No 9830. Price: N250
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APC Finally Edges Out Buni, Akpanudoedehe; Reorganises Convention Sub-c’ttees How ex-CECPC chair bungled soft-landing option Four major decisions Bello took in four days Party discovers secret court order obtained to stop convention NEC meets next Thursday Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja The All Progressives Congress (APC), yesterday, technically confirmed the sack of the Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni and Senator James Akpanudoedehe as chairman and national secretary of the Caretaker/
Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) respectively, after excluding them from the central planning committee of the party. With the new list of the convention committees, the names of Buni and Akpanudoedehe,were conspicuously missing as the ruling
party continued its preparation for the March 26 national convention. Although there had been plans to offer Buni and Akpanudoedehe a soft-landing, so that it would not seem as though the party embarrassed them, the fact that Buni was foot-dragging and Akpanudoedehe
continued to live in self-denial, coupled with the fact that the party needed to move as fast as possible to catch up with the proposed date for its national convention, took the offer off the table. From all indications, therefore, the acting Caretaker Chairman and
Governor of Niger State, Abubakar Sani Bello, has taken over as the head of the Central Planning Committee, the main group meant to be headed by Buni if he was still in charge. In the same stroke, the name of Akpanudoedehe did not feature in any of the committees, not even as
the secretary of the central planning committee, an office he held till events took a different turn in the party this week. This, nonetheless, many APC members were excited about the Continued on page 47
First Time in 22 Years of Democracy, Senate Goes against Agreement Reached with Sitting President As lawmakers throw out Buhari's request to amend contentious clause 84 which abridges constitutional right of appointees to vote and be voted for Sunday Aborisade For the first time since the country returned to democracy in 1999, the Senate yesterday reneged on an agreement it reached with a sitting president as the lawmakers overwhelmingly threw out a bill seeking to amend the new Electoral Act 2022. According to analysts, that was the first time the National Assembly would reach an agreement with a sitting president and go against it. The Executive request was made by President Muhammadu Buhari to amend the Electoral Act signed into law on February, 25 2022. Buhari had requested that the National Assembly should delete Section 84 (12) which mandates government appointees to resign their positions three months ahead of primary elections of political parties in the newly signed Electoral Act 2022 Continued on page 47
HONOURING EMEKA ANYAOKU AT A PUBLIC SYMPOSIUM... L-R: Former Anambra State Governor, Mr. Peter Obi; Governor-elect, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo and incumbent Governor, Chief Willie Obiano, at a lecture organised in honour of the former Secretary General of Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka... recently
Court to Hear FG’s Extradition Suit against Abba Kyari March 23... Page 48