Connect with us

News

INEC deploys over 700 staff, 700 armed security men for re-run in Enugu

Published

on

Spread the love

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it is over 95 per cent ready to conduct a hitch-free re-run elections in two constituencies within Enugu State as ordered by the Court of Appeal.

INEC would conduct a re-run in Igbo-Eze North/Udenu Federal Constituency and Enugu South (Urban) State Constituency on Saturday, Feb. 3.

INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Enugu State, Dr Chukwuemeka Chukwu, told newsmen in a press briefing on Friday in Enugu that the commission had deployed over 700 staff and ad hoc staff as well as 700 armed securitymen for the re-run.

Chukwu explained that the over 700 staff and ad hoc staff deployed included: Presiding Officers, Assistant Presiding Officers, Electoral Officers, Registration Area Officers, Collation Officers and two Returning Officers among others.

He said that the commission had perfected arrangement with transport unions and had made 50 per cent payment to them already to ensure that they deliver on human and material logistics for the election.

The REC said that apart from the regular election observers and monitors; the çommission had appointed three special monitors for the three local government involved.

Maduka College Advert

According to him, with the water-tight arrangements, it is clear that INEC will deliver a credible, fair and seamless Election, which is devoid of violence and rancour.

“We encourage all eligible voters involved to come out en mass to exercise their franchise as we have securitymen well on ground,” he said.

Chukwu said that no fewer than 67,315 eligible voters will participate in the re-run between 8 a.m. and 2:30p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 3.

He said that a total of 173 polling units in 25 Registration Areas, popularly known as political wards, would be open for Igbo-Eze North/Udenu Federal Constituency and Enugu South (Urban) State Constituency re-run.

The REC said that for Igbo-Eze North/Udenu Federal Constituency, there would be a total number of 62,697 eligible voters within 24 Registration Areas as well as 165 polling units.

He said that for Enugu South (Urban) State Constituency, there would be a total number of 4,618 eligible voters within one Registration Area (political ward) as well as eight polling units.

He said that just like the main 2023 elections, all technological devices of INEC would be deployed, these included: Bimodal Voters Accreditation System (BVAS) and INEC Election Result Viewing Portal (IReV).

Chukwu noted that all rules and regulations for a normal election would apply and observed during the re-run, assuring that any eligible voter that made himself/herself available before 2:30p.m. must vote and his/her vote will count.

News

Enugu Lawyer rejects paternity claim after DNA Test results

Published

on

Spread the love

A legal practitioner, Barrister Chinedu Ifeanyi Iloeje, has publicly declared that a man previously believed to be his son is not biologically related to him, following the outcome of a DNA test.

In a public notice published in a newspaper, Iloeje stated that he was allegedly misled by the man’s mother into believing that the individual, identified as Chinedu Francis Iloeje, was his biological son.

According to the notice, DNA testing conducted on the matter established “beyond any doubt” that the man is not his son.

The lawyer further clarified that he never legally adopted the individual, despite the latter bearing the name Chinedu Francis Iloeje.

Disclaimer

Barrister Iloeje explained that the man’s original name is Chinedu Francis Onwualu and stressed that he has no legal or biological relationship with him.

The notice also informed members of the public, the Greater Iloeje Family, the Umuodu Village Union, Uwani Amokwe Town Union, St. Theresa’s Catholic Church Amokwe, Udi Local Government Council, and other stakeholders of his declaration.

Maduka College Advert

He stated that the disclaimer was made in good faith and while of sound mind, urging the public to take note of the clarification.

The publication has sparked discussions on paternity disputes and the increasing reliance on DNA testing to resolve questions of biological parentage.

Continue Reading

News

Obi donates N10 million to burnt hospital in Enugu

Published

on

Mr Peter Obi presenting a cheque of 10 Million Naira to assist in the renovation of the burnt Mother of Christ Specialist Hospital, Enugu State.
Spread the love

Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in the forthcoming 2027 general election, Mr. Peter Obi, has donated N10 million to assist in the renovation of the burnt Mother of Christ Specialist Hospital, Enugu State.

The former Anambra State governor handed over the cheque for the donation to the hospital management team when he visited the hospital yesterday.

The hospital belongs to the Reverend Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of the Catholic Church.

Mr Peter Obi inspecting the burnt hospital

Addressing the hospital management team after inspecting parts of the burnt hospital, the NDC presidential candidate commended them for their efforts in contributing to healthcare delivery services.

Telling them that even though they might feel that they were not being appreciated for what they were doing, Obi, however, described healthcare delivery services and education as among the “most critical needs of society” and urged them not to relent in what they were doing.

Maduka College Advert

Accompanied during the visit by his Chief of Staff, Commissioner for Housing, as well as Special Adviser on Media when he was Anambra State governor, Prof. Stella Okunna, Prof. Patrick Obi, and Dr. Valentine Obienyem respectively, Obi assured the hospital management team that he would continue to support them.

Part of the hospital gutted by the inferno and inspected by Obi was the Children’s Ward.

Expressing gratitude on behalf of the hospital management, the Chief Medical Director of Immaculate Heart Hospital, Nkpor, Anambra State, Rev. Sister Dr. Maria Nkiruka Okafor, eulogised Obi for his sacrifices and selfless contributions to humanity.

Disclosing that Obi had already credited the hospital’s accountant with the N10 million donation and that he was even the person who called her to inform her that he had received the sad news of the inferno and promised to donate towards the renovation, Rev. Sister Okafor described him as a rare politician.

She prayed that God would grant him his ambition to become President of the country and enable him to achieve his desire to transform it.

Continue Reading

News

FG, Enugu State target direct China-Enugu Cargo flights by December – Keyamo

Published

on

Aviation Minister, Festus Keyamo
Spread the love

The Federal Government and Enugu State Government are in talks to ensure the commencement of direct cargo flight operations between Enugu and Guangzhou, China, before the end of the year.

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Barr Festus Keyamo, disclosed this in Lagos during the launch of the United Air’s newly acquired airplanes on Thursday.

The Minister added said the FG had affected a structural management overhaul at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, also bringing the airport under a privately run operational framework.

Enugu Airline

“One of our prides in the South is the Enugu International Airport. The Enugu governor approached Mr. President, noting that the airport was not maximising its economic potential under standard bureaucratic structures, and requested to bring in private investors to run it. Mr. President gave the green light.

“As I speak with you, Enugu is now fully privately owned and fully supported by state government, with the clear objective of also turning it into a dedicated cargo hub for the entire Southeast.”

Maduka College Advert

To this effect, therefore, Keyamo said that a high-level bilateral trade negotiations were ongoing with a view to securing direct logistics flights between China and the Southeast by the end of 2026.

“Just two days ago, the Enugu governor and I were actively negotiating the first direct cargo flight from Guangzhou, China, straight into Enugu.

“We are targeting December for the maiden flight. This will allow our Southeast merchants and traders in China to consolidate their goods into unified cargo accounts twice a week, flying straight into Enugu for seamless delivery to hubs like Onitsha and Aba,” he concluded.

It is recalled that Governor Mbah had in July 2025 launched Enugu Air, a state-owned airline, as part of the administration’s integrated blueprint for a modern, multimodal transport ecosystem and the vision to make Enugu a major aviation and logistics hub.

Since then, Enugu Air has grown its fleet from three at inception to six planes with plans to further increase it as it prepares to commence operations to regional destinations like Accra, Libreville, Abidjan in next few months and long haul flight operations to various destinations around the world by the end of the year.

Continue Reading

Trending

Maduka College Advert