The deputy national co-ordinator of the Aisha Buhari led All Progressives Congress (APC) Women Presidential Campaign Team, Lauretta Onochie has expressed optimism about the organization’s capability of delivering on its mandate to ensure victory for the ruling APC at the 2023 presidential election.

The Delta born frontline politician, who also will co-ordinate the Delta State chapter of the group, averred that her confidence in the organization’s prospects of electoral success, arose from its membership which comprise high calibre personalities, who parade sterling accomplishments in diverse spheres of endeavor.

She further observed that,. “There is no gain-saying that an organization with Aisha Buhari at the helm, alongside Senator Oluremi Tinubu and a collection of distinctive achievers, will harvest success at the polls”.

Parasitology and Public Health Society of Nigeria (PPSN), yesterday, raised concern over the increasing Tropical Parasitic Diseases and the heavy burden it had placed on the region over the years, but with”no Political Will by African leaders to nip the crippling and killing parasites in the bud”.

Vice-Chancellor, Delta State University, DELSU, Abraka, Prof. Andy Egwunyenga, raised the concern in a keynote address at the 46th Annual conference, holding in Delta State Abraka, Ethiope East council of Delta State, lamenting that the consequences of parasitic infections are very devastating in terms of human sickness and deaths, as well as agriculture and animal grazing, and so, governments must rise up to the challenge.

According to Egwunyenga, who delivered the keynote address with the theme of the 46th annual conference, “POLITICAL WILL TOWARDS DISEASE CONTROL-THE AFRICAN EXPERIENCE”, stressed that tropical parasites shorten lives, reduce the ability to work or attend school and impose a lifelong burden on Africa’s potential for development.

The Professor of parasitology and public health consultant who brazenly bemoaned the burden of the tropical diseases in Africa though with far fewer resources, stated that diseases cause mass poverty, high fertility rate, slow economic growth, deforestation, rapid urbanization and increased migration, wars and natural disasters across the African continent.

These, according to him, were contributing to increased transmission and distribution of diseases, hence there must be urgent needs in building the political will for effective disease control, to bridging the gap in health financing, priority setting and on how best to improve prevention, monitoring and control of diseases rather than relying more on foreign aid such as World Bank which, only this year, allocated $100 million to help enhance and support African countries in preparing for, detecting, and responding to disease outbreaks and public emergencies.

He said diseases cost the African Region $2.4 trillion a year and nearly 639 million years of healthy life were lost in 2015 while In sub-Saharan Africa, an epidemiological transition in the last 20 years has seen the rise of non-communicable disease as the leading cause of death in many countries.

“The health challenge has been well recognised by African governments resulting in the Abuja Declaration in 2001 and other follow-ups but responses have been mixed with most countries unable to meet the funding target of 15 percent, including Nigeria, with average budget of about 4.7 percent since the past 20 years while the highest is Swaziland with 17 percent, he regretted.

Speaking further, Prof. Egwunyenga viewed Africa’s Disease Burden With a population of 1.34 billion, to represents 16 percent of the world’s population of 7.9 billion which of course, carries 25 percent of the world’s disease burden.

He revealed that Extreme poverty continues to drive increased burden of disease in Africa because of 736 million people who lived on less than $1.90 a day, more than 413 million of them were from sub-Saharan Africa; adding: “Africa share of global health expenditure is less than 1 percent leaving more than half of its population without access to essential health services”.

He expressed worry that deaths from non-communicable diseases,
NCDS, are likely to increase by 17 percent globally over the next 10 years, and African Region will experience a whopping 27 percent increase, which is twenty-eight million additional deaths from conditions such as cardiovascular diseases, cancers, diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases (Naik and Kaneda, saying they are projected to exceed the combined deaths due to communicable, maternal, perinatal and nutrition-related diseases.

Prof. Egwunyenga, however, regretted that Nigeria government, compared to other African countries, has failed woefully, in ensuring that 15 percent of its annual budgetary allocation goes towards health, after all.

The parasitologist hinted that political will to sustainably fund health and disease control was weak, noting with emphasis that Politics and Health Financing in Nigeria
Commitment to adequately fund health and disease control programmes in Nigeria is hampered by the inability of government and politicians, particularly the National Assembly to set the right priorities.

“Aside from other unstated allowances, Nigerian Federal Lawmakers in 2020 allocated to themselves, a total of N268 billion and N463.76 billion to Health. An analysis of the budget shows that more than half of all Nigeria planned to spend on health in 2020 (N463.7 billion) went to the National Assembly. This meant that for every N2 spent on Nigerian’s health care, N1 went to the National Assembly. In pitiably same year Nigeria spent N500 billion on medical tourisms”, he revealed.

In his address, Prof. Sammy O Sam-Wobo, President, Parasitology and Public Health Society of Nigeria (PPSN), said it was worthy to note that they were in a near-constant state of improvement and regeneration of existing policies and scientific procedures, and PPSN has the gift of remaining contemporary to her members and their aspirations, as well as the society at large, in advancing the culture of scientific progression to measure up with global curve of rapid scientific novelties in research, prevention and control of parasitic diseases.

He said this year’s conference theme “Political Will Towards Disease Control – The African Experience”, was well chosen considering the present realities in most African countries where parasitic diseases especially Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) still hold sway and the Government going nothing to salvage the situation.

While summarizing key achievements of PPSN to include building the capacity and development of a critical mass of doctoral level scholarships for the continent, practical engagement in intellectual discourse, knowledge production, policy definition and intervention against diseases and their agents, Prof. Sam-Wobo thanked members of PPSN Council, BoT, College of Fellows, Zonal and Chapter coordinators, all members of PPSN and Local Organizing Committee for their enthusiastic commitment to ensure the success of the outstanding conference.

A special logo, designed by a member as the official logo for PPSN@50, was unveiled which kick-started awareness activities towards celebrating the Society in 2023.

The Delta State Government has said that it regretted embarrassments that the delay on the NYSC National Orientation Camp Road Project work at Issele-Uku have caused the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Ndudi Elumelu and the people of Aniocha North Local Government Area, particularly the people of Issele-Uku, and Onicha-Uku.

The State commissioner for works (Urban and Highways) Mr. Noel Omodon made the State Government position known in an exclusive interview with three online Newspapers, cshowcasenews.com, Banneronlinenews.com and newsviewng.com, in his office in Asaba, Delta State capital.

Omodon said that the delay was partly due to the need to correct a technical defect on the road noticed by the contractor when he initially commenced work on the road, pointing out that he drew the attention of the State Government to it and there was the need to review the contract to accommodate the correction.

He revealed that the correction entails channeling the flood water at the lowest part of the road through Captain Nwosu Street down to a channel by Issele-Uku/Idumuje-Unor road. He also stated that the contracting firm, Neodede Construction Company, was to be partly blamed for not trusting the State Government’s commitment towards taking care of all his fears in the review.

“We want to really appreciate the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Ndudi Elumelu. He is a very strong and supportive person. He has been very supportive. He is not the kind of person that sits down and waits until a miracle happens. He will always reach out. All the work he has been doing in that area, we are quite appreciative and we want to assure him that we will not let our garbs down.

“Rt. Hon. Elumelu has been very assertive about getting the problem sorted out and he has done a lot, very frankly, but we just feel that we are letting him down because the contracting firm was not following up with his pace. But I hope we are not causing him too much embarrassment.

“We shall definitely catch up with him. We regret the embarrassments it must have caused him, but it is very unfair for the people not to realize that he is doing a lot for them.”

He condemned in strong terms what happened at Idumu-Ogo and said that it is sad and unfair for those people to fail to appreciate all the good works the Minority Leader has been doing.

Omodon further revealed that the contractor has gone back to site on Wednesday last week and that construction of drains along Captain Nwosu Street has commenced in earnest.

The commissioner stated that all that is needed for the road project is being provided for the contractor, adding that sharp sand was approved for sand filling instead of laterite because of the rain. He however, said that the contractor is confident now and that the work is being done according to specifications.

“We are going to try very hard to ensure that we deliver all the roads including the palliative work the State Government is doing at the Onicha-Ugbo/ Idumuje-Ugboko Road. It is a Federal Government road, but we are working on it.

He said in order to tackle the challenge of vehicle movement on the road as work progresses on the NYSC National Orientation Camp Road, moves are being made to activate and open up the ongoing Onicha-Ugbo /Idumuje-Ugboko Road with a view to allowing traffic from Idumuje-Ugboko down to the Benin/Asaba Express Road and there through Onicha-Ugbo down to Idumuje-Ugboko.

“Our problem is that they are shifting all the traffic to Issele-Uku and that is not fair. Our roads there are not meant for such heavy traffic where heavy duty vehicles ply the road often. We are discussing with our contractors handling the Onicha-Ugbo-Idumuje-Ugboko Road palliative work for them to bring in boulders and granites for us to seal off the bad portion along the ongoing project and allow movement of vehicles.

“It is going to cost us much, but we are committed to doing it! Thank God we have gotten a partner, a company that is in the quarry business, their business is being affected and they have agreed to supply the granites. So in no distant time , we are going to bring back all traffic back to Onicha-Ugbo from there, they hit the express and not our roads.

“We are very sympathetic with the pains the people of Aniocha North, particularly the people of Issele-Uku and Onicha-Uku, have to go through as a result of the road.

“Everybody is embarrassed about it and I hope to get all the heavy duty vehicles out of Issele-Uku in the shortest possible time”, he said.

The commissioner assured that moves are on the way to present a memo to the State Executive Council on the need to rehabilitate some of the damaged roads, occasioned by the influx of heavy duty vehicles passing through the Issele-Uku metropolis to access the Benin/Asaba/Onitcha Expressway, particularly, the Ogbeofu Road.

Wife of the President of Nigeria, Aisha Buhari has been named head of the Tinubu/Shettima Women Presidential Campaign team of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

She is expected to lead a team of about 1,200-member women’s campaign wing of the party for the 2023 elections.

Senator Oluremi Tinubu, wife of the party’s flag bearer and Hajiya Nana Shettima, the wife of the APC presidential running mate are to serve as chairperson and co-chairperson of the women’s campaign team respectively.

These appointments were contained in a statement on Saturday in Abuja by Rinsola Abiola, daughter of late Chief MKO Abiola, who is also named in the media and administrative committees of the campaign team.

Hon. Asabe Vilita Bashir, a former member of the House of Representatives from Borno who serves as national coordinator will be assisted by Lauretta Onochie, a senior aide in the Presidency as deputy national coordinator.

The women’s campaign in the North-West Zone will be coordinated by Dr Zainab Baugudu, wife of the Kebbi Governor while a Falmata Zulum, the First Lady of Borno State, will be in charge of the Northeast.

Olufolake Abdulrazaq, wife of Kwara Governor will coordinate efforts in the North-Central and Mrs. Ibijoke Sanwo-olu, wife of the Lagos Governor, will superintend over the South-West.

Imo First Lady Chioma Ikeaka-Uzodinma will also coordinate the South-East while Linda Ayade, wife of the Cross River Governor, will spearhead the women’s campaign in the South-South.

The statement also indicated that wives of Governors in APC-controlled states will serve as state coordinators in APC sttates, while notable APC women in non-APC-controlled States will take charge.

Florence Ajimobi, widow of the former governor of Oyo State and Zainab Ibrahim, the APC Deputy National Women Leader, among others, were chosen to coordinate activities in States not controlled by the APC.

The deputy national co-ordinator of the Aisha Buhari led All Progressives Congress (APC) Women Presidential Campaign Team, Lauretta Onochie has expressed optimism about the organization’s capability of delivering on its mandate to ensure victory for the ruling APC at the 2023 presidential election.

The Delta born frontline politician, who also will co-ordinate the Delta State chapter of the group, averred that her confidence in the organization’s prospects of electoral success, arose from its membership which comprise high calibre personalities, who parade sterling accomplishments in diverse spheres of endeavor.

She further observed that “ There is no gain-saying that an organization with Aisha Buhari at the helm, alongside a collection of distinctive achievers, will harvest success at the polls”.

By ABEL JOHNGOLD ORHERUATA

The group, Civil Society in Malaria Control, Immunisation and Nutrition (ACOMIN) has called on the government and all relevant stakeholders at all levels to support Community Based Organizations (CBOs) implementing project towards elimination of AIDS, Tuberculosis and malaria (ATM) in communities across the State.

This is just as the Non-governmental Organization (NGO) is craving for awareness and coverage of services that are still needed to scale up work on the prevention, treatment and mitigation of the impact of malaria as well as the promotion of immunisation and better nutrition in Delta State, with focus on communities.

This was disclosed today, 28 September, 2022, by the Delta State ACOMIN Coordinator, Pst. Greg Sifo, at the State Advocacy Focused Media Meeting (C19RM/RSSH Project) held at Cyson Hotels in Asaba, the State capital, where he advocated that the state government should increase its funding on malaria prevention.

While disclosing that ACOMIN still need support to addressed the impact of COVID-19 on Gender Base Violence (GBV) and daily reported cases of human rights violation, Sifo said “We also ask the Mass Media to join us as partners to propagate these intervention as we progress by amplifying the need for increased support and funding for AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (ATM) interventions by the government at all levels.”

The ACOMIN Coordinator stated that the organisation was presently focused on all communities in the state, and that the state ministry of health should heighten up the protection of lives through eradication of malaria.

He further expressed the readiness and decision of ACOMIN to partner the government and key in to the distribution of treated mosquito repellent nets, health policy as well as sensitization of the people for the benefit of Deltans. Adding that this will serve as a cashback as supportive malaria improves.

Sifo said: “ACOMIN in collaboration with CBOs and other major stakeholders had been working. Successes recorded were based on the advocacy and accountability campaign done to stakeholders on community engagement to sustain the campaign against malaria and other diseases.”

He disclosed that the COVID-19 Response Mechanism (C19RM) Grant, with support from Global Fund, seeks to address gaps in the systems and infrastructures for efficient and effective outcomes.

“The health systems as well as the Communities and Community Society Organizations (CSOs) are integrated into the COVID Response, such that all contribute their quotas in achieving results. Historically, the CSOs have contributed to COVID-19 particularly with regards to facilitating access to essential commodities and routine healthcare services.” The Delta State ACOMIN Coordinator stated in his brief.

In her remarks, the Delta State Malaria Program Manager, Dr (Mrs.) Julie Aniah, commended ACOMIN as well as appreciated all stakeholders for the support on malaria elimination in the State, adding that malaria can be eliminated totally.

She said the advocacy focused Media meeting on Malaria control was very important because public needs to know what the group was doing. That it was an opportunity to amplified the good work the NGO was doing.

While noting that the State Government envisaged malaria free State in the nearest future, Dr. Aniah averred that the government cannot do it alone, hence the appeal to stakeholders to support the government to address the burden.

In their separate remarks, the Behavioral Change Communication Adviser of Society For Family Health, Mrs. Momoh Mercy, a Community Leader Ogbueshi Obinna Maduemezia and Pastor Okoh Sunday Nwafor, explained that since the introduction and usage of treated long-lasting net for prevention of malaria, malaria infection reduced. And that more campaign and sensitisation was required.

Mrs. Momoh Mercy called on stakeholders to support the government in the provision of health services for Deltans.

While Pastor Okoh Nwafor opined that religion has a lot to do being the opium of the people that he would continue to use his religious work to convince his followers on the needs for health safety precautions, Ogbueshi Madurmezia said “Malaria is a killer disease so we must save lives in our communities through continuous sensitization.”

Commenting, an Information Officer of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Comrade Abel Johngold, a journalist and Chairman of the Federal Information Chapel of The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Delta State Council, called on the State Government to sustain provided health facilities across the State with availability of adequate health personnel, better beddings, provision of electricity, security guards, and water supply.

By Aruoriwo Ivovi

As part of the empowerment initiatives of the Delta State Government to upscale the skills of youths in Information Communication Technology (ICT) in the state, no fewer than 100 youths, including civil servants, have graduated from the state Emerging Markets Model Initiative training.

The graduands of the programme, made up of 70 youths from across the 25 Local Government areas of the state and 30 public servants, selected from various MDAs, completed the three-months intensive training in cyber security, project design and web development as implemented by Tech4Dev and Microsoft.

Beneficiaries were fully equipped with laptops by the state government in realisation of the strategic wealth creation and Stronger Delta agenda of the Senator (Dr.) Ifeanyi Okowa’s led administration.

The Chief Economic Adviser to the governor, Dr. Kingsley Emu, who is the Coordinator of the programme, while addressing the trainees, underscored the importance and adaptability of technology to all facets of human endeavours in modern times.

Explaining the relevance of the programme, he noted that technology was the modern in-thing, adding that it was important to upscale the skills of beneficiaries to enable them compete favourably in the global space.

He maintained that the selection process was rigorous and in strict adherence to standard.

Dr. Emu reiterated the irrevocable commitment of Governor Okowa to human capacity development in the state and urged the beneficiaries of the programme to reciprocate the kind gesture of the state government.

He disclosed that the state government had trained over 12, 855 entrepreneurs in the last seven years and provided direct employment to 223, 000 unemployed persons in the state.

Dr. Emu also stated that the Okowa Administration had created over 1.3million indirect jobs to Deltans and called on the beneficiaries to reciprocate the gesture by supporting the governor’s vice presidential ambition.

While congratulating the beneficiaries on their successful completion of the three months training, the Chief Economic Adviser urged them to put skills acquired into good practice in order to be relevant in the tech business.

Also speaking at the ceremony, the Commissioner for Science and Technology, Mrs. Jennifer Adasen, expressed satisfaction with the number of girls that participated in the programme.

She challenged them to cherish the skills acquired from the training as, according to her, it would launch them into the world

‘’You can work anywhere without depending on the government. However, if you do not sleep on the knowledge that you have gained today, the sky would be your limit. I wish you luck,’’ she said.

Earlier, the Executive Assistant to the Governor on ICT, Mr. Emmanuel Odigie, represented by Mr. Henry Onyebadi, in his welcome address, said that the training was in line with the vision of Governor Okowa to bequeath a Stronger Delta to his successor.

‘’To make it easy for the participants, the state government has provided one laptop for each of them as well as free data for the entire duration of the training. The laptops are meant to be taken home by the participants as a starter pack for continuity and sustainability of the vision of the state government and the empowerment of the participants as a stepping stone to greater heights,’’ he said.

‘’Never allow what you have learned to remain within you alone. Do not act like the foolish, lazy and ungrateful steward who dug the ground and hid the one talent given to him. Rather, we expect you to act like the Biblical steward who invested his five talents and made profits to the admiration of his master,’’ he said.

The Programme Manager, Tech4Dev, Mr. Abraham Akpan, who also spoke at the event, said that the programme was designed to build the capacity of crucial ministries, departments and Amagencies (MDAs) to offer better services in the state.

The ceremony climaxed with the presentation of awards to three outstanding participants and a Microsoft-endorsed certificate to all the beneficiaries after they had demonstrated their proficiencies through different projects they handled

A group in Delta North with representatives in the Diaspora under the aegis of One Voice, Our Choice has endorsed the senatorial candidacy of Barrister Kennedy Kanma to represent Delta North in the national assembly.

The endorsement followed a resounding presentation of his plan for Anioma people and his readiness to champion accountability when he eventually emerges senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 2023.

Barrister Kanma who carefully marshaled out his agenda to assist Peter Obi’s presidency to make a great success, revealed how he would tackle contractors who will execute projects in Delta North and ensure that no project is left unexecuted and no funds in whatever guise is diverted.

He shared pathetic stories of how Nigerian government officials and contractors connive to divert funds with bogus budgets. He said most of these projects are not executed and probes are not initiated against the contractors and the awarding agencies.

He told the people of Delta North who gathered at the Event Centre in Ogwashi Uku, headquarters of Aniocha South local government area of Delta state that one of his biggest pursuits when he becomes senator by the good people of Delta North is to ensure accountability in all facets of government.

He decried known leakages in funds disbursement but painfully left unblocked by officials who are entrusted with such responsibility.

Kanma, who vowed to make sure things are done rightly, noted that he would pursue with vigour whatever concerns Delta North when he emerges senator for the zone. He touched thorny issues in the senatorial district which past and present representatives of the zone are glossing over.

He acknowledged the dam in Ogwashi Uku which has been declared completed but in reality it is abandoned project. He told the people that he cannot be senator and such a project that is dear to Aniocha/Oshimili people is abandoned.

According to him, as a senator representing Delta North, no contractor handling any federal government project in the region would be allowed to do a shoddy project and go away with it. He said he would ensure that any project that bears the name Delta North or Anioma nation must be executed according to specification.

On a national level, he said the issues of insecurity, poverty, hunger amidst plenty, kidnapping, injustice and others are results of lack of accountability in government.

He noted thus: “Insecurity is caused by lack of justice. Many have refused to obey the laws of the nation. If people who do wrong are made to face the law, if things are done rightly and things are put in their proper perspective, you will see that insecurity will reduce.

“Poverty in Nigeria is a result of the failure of government. The government fails to do what they are supposed to do. Things are not working because the government is not doing enough. The officials of government are not responsible to the people. If they were, everybody would have enough to eat and have a better life.

“The dam project in Ogwashi Uku was supposed to serve as source of irrigation, electricity and provide water for people around Aniocha/Oshimili. The dam is reported to have been completed but in actual sense it is abandoned.

“This is a failure of government. Our representatives do not take our matters as their concern. If things that are supposed to be done are done rightly you will see a difference in the lifestyle of the people. It is not that Nigeria does not have money, it is the problem of misappropriation of funds by government officials.

“As Labour Party legislator if I’m elected by the grace of God, we are going to pursue accountability in every sphere of governance. When there is accountability in governance, all these challenges will not arise. When you examine how much Nigeria government awards projects, it is multiple times the amount spent in many countries of the world.

“Labour Party is set to cancel the past and begin new things in a new way. If these things are not put in place, we cannot achieve our desired objective. A rail line in Lagos was awarded at the rate of 1.5billion dollars. That is a very good project. It was to begin at Okokomaiko in Lagos and end in Lagos Island.

“The same Chinese company that is doing the rail line in Nigeria is also doing a similar one in Ethiopia, an East Africa country. The one in Lagos is 7km long. The one in Ethiopa is 759km. The one in Ethiopa is 4.5billion dollars. Nigeria’s own is 1.5billion dollars.

“If you break it down into amount per kilometer, you will find out that the one in Lagos is awarded at 52million dollars per km while the one in Ethiopia is awarded at 5million dollars per km. When you look at the disparity, you can now understand why we suffer the things we suffer in Nigeria.

“That is not the end of the bad government we have in Nigeria. If you examine that contract further you will find that the one in Nigeria is to carry only passengers that is why it is called light rail while the one in Ethiopa is to carry both passengers and cargo that is why it is called heavy rail. We are paying heavy amount for something less while Ethiopia is paying less for something great. These things are happening all over the system”

He also spoke of abandoned projects which are littering different parts of the country. This is even as money has been paid to the contractors.  For him, such cannot happen when he is senator for Delta North.

He said: “One thing I want to tell us is that me Ken Kanma, if I am in the senate and a contract is given to anybody pertaining to Delta North, I assure you it must be done according to specification.

“If people are not held accountable for what they do we will not have enough money to do other things. Anything that pertains to Delta North we will scrutinize it properly and ensure the right thing is done.

“Many contracts are awarded in this our district and they are abandoned because nobody cares. The role of your senator is to ensure that if a project is sited in our constituency, it should be followed up. If you are given a contract in Delta North and you want to use it for settlement it will not work because our duty is to ensure that the executive does what it is supposed to do.”

Speaking on his agenda for Anioma nation, he said “from the moment I decided to run for senate, I have planned that a great percentage of our focus will be on the human capital development of the people of Anioma land. I’m interested in moving people from poverty to prosperity.

“In 2023 Labour Party is a much better choice in any way you look at it. In Labour Party, Nigeria will be moved from poverty, sufferings, killings, kidnapping and hunger to a better life for all. As at present it is difficult to say it is well with Nigeria but with Labour Party coming on board it will be well with Nigeria.”

Secretary of the organizing body, Mr. Augustine Nkwo, said the debate was put together to hear the programmes of the people contesting for various political offices in the area. He added that having listened to Barrister Kennedy Kanma, the body has endorsed him to represent Delta North in the 2023 senate.

The All Progressives Congress(APC) penultimate weekend, got a confidence surge, in the march to 2023 electoral victories as President Muhammadu Buhari’s Special Assistant on Social Media Lauretta Onochie, formalised her membership of the national ruling party at Onicha-Olona(Ward 4), Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State.

At the event Onochie, a blue chip avowed BUHARIST, disclosed that her resolve to formalising her status, stems from “Given that President Buhari won’t be contesting come 2023, it is imperative to support and ensure victory for the APC presidential standard bearer, ASIWAJU Bola Ahmed Tinubu in furtherance of President Buhari’s innumerable accomplishments”.

She also revealed that this development has debunked the earlier fallacious “partisan inclination” which was widely disseminated.

“With this, I can confidently state that I am now a card-carrying member of the party(APC) as against the earlier fictitious story of my purported membership whereby my details were forged and presented to the public. Well, that’s another story for the future”, she emphasized.

In his speech, the Delta North Senatorial Chairman of the party, OIgbueshi Adizue Ekuaka, said he remained enthused over her membership of the party, as the development portends positive dividend at the impending 2023 elections.

Similarly, the Aniocha North Chairman of the party, Sir Matthew Chinye affirmed that Lauretta Onichie’s membership of the party, will herald good tidings for the party nationwide.

By Nneka Glory Nwachukwu

The legal battle for the Delta State Peoples Democratic Party Gubernatorial ticket effectively entered the last lap with the opening of hearing at the Supreme Court on Thursday.

Recall that after the PDP primaries in May, Olorogun David Edevbie challenged the qualification of Sheriff Oborevwori at the Federal High Court, Abuja, over discrepancies in his credentials and the court ruled Oborevwori unqualified but the Court of Appeal upturned the ruling prompting Edevbie to proceed to the Supreme Court.

At the first hearing, after the filing of briefs, the Supreme Court granted Edevbie the order for substituted service to the respondents.

The matter was adjourned till September 30 for the consideration of other preliminary issues.