NEWS
My mandate can’t be negotiated, says Kachukwu
The Presidential Candidate of the African Democratic Congress, (ADC), Dumebi Kachikwu, has said that his presidential ticket was not for sale.
Kachukwu, who gave his full support to the ADC State Chairmen Forum for discontinuing the tenure extension of Chief Ralph Nwosu, spoke during a Press Briefing in Abuja on Saturday.
Dumebi Kachukwu
He said “This morning several people sent me an unsigned statement purporting to have suspended me from the party.
While giving a background to what was happening, he said the tenure of the immediate past national chairman,Chief Ralph Okey Nwosu, expired on the 28th of last month (August), prior to which he had sought for tenure elongation.
“He had reached me directly and indirectly pleading for us to extend his tenure.
“For those who don’t know Chief Ralph Nwosu, he is the longest serving Chairman of a Political Party in the history of Nigeria, he has been serving for the past 17 years you must understand that this is contrary to the provision of constitution of the ADC which says that a Chairman of the ADC can hold position for consecutive period of maximum two terms of four years each.
Read also>>>‘Alleged suspension of ADC’s presidential candidate is null, void’
“For some reasons best known to INEC we don’t know how Chief Ralph Nwosu was able to hold on to that position for the past 17 years.
“When the Chairmen of the different State Chapters made known to me that his tenure was coming to an end and that Nwosu was seeking an illegal or back door extension and that they were not in support of it, I told them that as the presidential candidate of the Party, I will do everything to uphold the constitution of the ADC.
“Beyond that my Party has always had this dubious instincts as a Party that traded the mandate of its candidates just like the issue with the last Presidential candidate of the ADC, we have seen that in so many elections the Party had always traded its candidate for monetary gains.
“He initially asked for a one year extension and now he is asking for six months extension thinking that since the election is in seven months and he is hoping that I will not emerge, then he will continue with his business.
“I have made a pledge to them that under my watch my mandate is not negotiable and the mandate of any aspiring candidate of this Party cannot be negotiated.”
The Presidential Candidate maintained that he will continue to deal decisively with the issues concerning the Party.
A helicopter carrying President Ebrahim Raisi yencountered a “hard landing” on Sunday.
According to report, the incident took place near Jolfa, a city situated on the border with Azerbaijan, within Iran’s East Azerbaijan province, approximately 600 kilometers northwest of Tehran.
However, details regarding the incident were not disclosed.
The Associated Press noted uncertainty regarding whether bh Raisi was onboard the helicopter during the incident.
Despite rescue efforts, adverse weather conditions, including heavy rain and wind, have hindered access to the site, according to state TV.
Before the helicopter incident, President Ebrahim Raisi had been in Azerbaijan on Sunday to participate in the inauguration of a dam alongside Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev.
This dam marks the third joint construction project between the two nations on the Aras River.
Despite Iran’s diverse helicopter fleet, obtaining parts is hindered by international sanctions, with much of its military air fleet dating back to pre-1979 Islamic Revolution era.
Raisi, aged 63, is known for his hard-line stance and previously served as the country’s judiciary leader.
Considered a protégé of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, some analysts speculate that Raisi could succeed the 85-year-old leader in the event of his resignation or demise.
The Democratic Republic of Congo’s military prevented an attempted coup on Sunday near President Felix Tshisekedi’s offices in Kinshasa, as reported by an army spokesperson.The Democratic Republic of Congo’s military prevented an attempted coup on Sunday near President Felix Tshisekedi’s offices in Kinshasa, as reported by an army spokesperson.
According to him, the plot, involving both foreigners and Congolese citizens, unfolded in the early hours outside the residence of Economy Minister Vital Kamerhe in the Gombe district, close to the president’s offices at the Palais de la Nation.
General Sylvain Ekenge announced on national television that the defence and security forces had successfully thwarted the coup attempt.
He said “An attempted coup d’etat has been stopped by the defence and security forces. The foreigners and Congolese…including their leader” would “all no longer cause any harm”.
Shots were heard near the Palais de la Nation during the attempted coup, as confirmed by various sources.
General Ekenge didn’t elaborate further on the incident, and AFP’s attempts to get additional information from official sources remain unanswered.
However by late morning, the city appeared calm.
Early social media reports suggested an armed attack on Kamerhe’s residence, with some assailants heading towards the Palais de la Nation.
“This morning, there was an armed attack at the residence of the economy minister,” wrote Japan’s ambassador Hidetoshi Ogawa on X.
He stated that Kamerhe “was not harmed, but two policemen and an assailant were killed according to sources.”
France’s ambassador reported hearing automatic weapons fire in the area and advised French nationals to steer clear of the location.
Videos circulating on social media depicted individuals in military attire at the Palais de la Nation, waving flags of Zaire, the former name of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) during the regime of dictator Mobutu Sese Seko, who was ousted in 1997.
Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, has dismissed all transition committee chairmen in the state’s 21 local government areas.
This decision was detailed in a letter titled “Expiration of Tenure and Handover to Heads of Local Government Administrations (HLGAs),” dated May 17, 2024, and signed by Collins Nwabunwanne, the state Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy, and Community Affairs.
According to the letter, the directive will be effective starting Monday, May 20, 2024.
The letter read, “Following the expiration of your tenure as Transition Committee Chairman, you are hereby directed to handover the affairs of your Local Government Council to the Head of Local Government Administration (HLGA), in your respective Local Government Councils.
“This directive takes effect from Monday, 20th day of May, 2024. Thank you for your service to the state. All replies to be addressed to the Honourable Commissioner.”
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