BY ADA ONWUKWE
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC upgraded the number of polling units in Imo State bringing the total number of polling units in the state to 4,758 from the existing 3523 polling units.
The State INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, Prof Francis Ezeonu, made this known while briefing newsmen on the commission’s efforts to expand voter access to polling units on Wednesday.
Ezeonu said the over the years, there had been attempts by the commission to create additional polling units to cater to the interest of new settlements and areas with unmanageable voter populatio,n but that the attempts were politicized by stakeholders, misunderstood by the public and criticized by the press.
Gov Uzodimma Dissolves Exco
Governor Hope Uzodimma dissolved the state Executive Council, sacking 20 Commissioners and retained 8.
“Governor Uzodimma thanked the affected Commissioners and assured them that they will still be found relevant in other areas if eventually they did not make the new cabinet he said will be reconstituted soon”, a statement by Media Adviser to the Governor, Marcel Oguwuike stated
Fr Mbaka Shuts Adoration Ministry
Fiery Enugu Catholic priest, Fr. Ejike Mbaka, has shut down Adoration Ministry for one month.
Mbaka’s ministry, Tuesday issued a notice to it’s members, informing them of the Cleric’s plan to proceed on a one month retreat.
Race For 2nd Term: Okorcha’s Men Seek Escape Route In APC
Political footsoldiers of former Governor of Imo State and Senator representing Orlu zone in the senate, Senator Rochas Okorocha, particularly those elected to the Federal legislature, are in dilemma on how they will return to their positions for a second term.
Their fear is predicated on the fact, that Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, is in firm grip of the APC structure in the state, thus only those on his “line up” will scale through for party nominations for various elective offices in 2023.
Though Okorocha’s men anticipate that things will change in the party in their favour between now and 2023, sources said they are plotting an ‘escape route’, to ensure they are not smoked out of the party before the next elections.
Part of their plan, INNONEWS was told, is to join the clamour for an automatic return ticket for all APC members in the National Assembly.
Imo NUJ Condemns Arrest Of Newspapers Vendors
The Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Imo State union and Senator Samuel Anyanwu, Tuesday, condemned the arrest of some newspaper vendors in Owerri by security operatives.
The NUJ in a statement signed by Chris Akaraonye and Juliet Dim, Chairman and Secretary of the union respectively condemned “the gestapo style of invasion and arrest of newspaper vendors and distributors in Owerri last Monday.
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