By Chimezie Anaso

Mr Patrick Obianyo, a former Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Anambra, has emerged the standard bearer of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) party for the Nov. 8 Anambra Governorship Election.

Obianyo was unanimously nominated through a voice vote at a congress held in Awka on Tuesday.

Chief Anayo Arinze, Deputy National Chairman, Electoral Matters of ADC, who was the chairman of the congress gave him the flag of the party.

Arinze said that ADC had participated in all Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) elections for the past 19 years when it was founded with presence from the State House of Assembly to presidential constituencies.

“I present to you, the candidate of our great party for the Nov. 8 governorship election.

“As we approach Nov. 8, we shall spring surprises, we will pursue that election with ideas and this is the man that will go for us,” he said.

In his acceptance speech, Obianyo thanked members of the party for their confidence in him and nominating him for the contest.

The ex-labour leader said the principles of accountability and commitment in leadership which formed the bedrock of ADC aligned with his philosophy.

“I am on a mission to change the leadership narrative of Nigeria and if elected, I will focus on education, healthcare, youth and women empowerment, security and workers’ welfare,” he said.

He said that he would reintroduce bursary and make education compulsory as well as give attention to healthcare.

“We shall address insecurity and crime through employment creation and business support.

“Civil Service is the engine room, unfortunately, successive governments have taken them to the back seat but if elected, I will prioritise their welfare,” he said.

Obianyo called on members of the party to support his candidature and ensure victory for ADC in the election.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Congress was monitored by officials of INEC. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Maureen Atuonwu

By Chimezie Anaso

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Tuesday nominated Mr Jude Ezenwafor as its candidate for the Nov. 8 governorship election in Anambra.

Dr Cornell Onwubuya, Chairman of the Anambra Governorship Election Congress Committee, said Ezenwafor was the sole aspirant and secured 798 ‘yes’ votes.

He added that 26 votes were declared invalid, while 853 delegates were accredited out of 999 listed for the congress.

The congress took place at the Women’s Development Centre, Awka.

Onwubuya said the process followed the PDP constitution and electoral guidelines.

“By the power vested in me and in line with PDP rules, I hereby declare Jude Ezenwafor our candidate,” he stated.

In his remarks, Ezenwafor said the PDP was on a rescue mission in Anambra and urged voters to support their bid to reclaim leadership.

He said he joined the race to return the PDP to the Anambra Government House.

“If you support me, the dream will come true. They say PDP is dead, but I will prove them wrong.

“All LGA and Ward Chairmen are now automatic coordinators in their areas. Our journey to Government House has begun,” he added.

Mr Chidi Chidebe, PDP Chairman in Anambra, said the party was heading into the election rejuvenated, united and strong.

He said Anambra regretted rejecting the PDP in the past and was ready to make amends.

According to him, many who left the PDP returned after discovering worse conditions in other parties.

Chidebe said PDP remains Nigeria’s most liberal party and had built the core governance structures in place today.

“We are the strongest party in Anambra. Only PDP can defeat the ruling party here. Let’s unite and make it happen,” he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Kamal Tayo Oropo

By Obinna Unaeze

Chief Nicholas Ukachukwu, one of the aspirants in the upcoming Governoship Election in Anambra, has emerged the Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Ukachukwu was declared the winner of the party’s governorship primary election in the early hours of Sunday morning by the Chairman of the Election Committee and Returning Officer, Gov. Bassey Otu of Cross River.

The election, which commenced on Saturday at the Women Development Centre, Awka, was contested by four aspirants.

Declaring the result of the exercise, Otu announced that Ukachukwu polled 1,455 votes to beat his closest rival, Mr Valentine Ozigbo, who scored 67 votes.

He also said that the two other aspirants, Mr Johnbosco Onunkwo and Mr Edozie Madu, polled eight votes and 26 votes, respectively.

He thanked the party faithful and aspirants for their resilience and loyalty to ensure the success of the exercise.

The governor also thanked the security agencies, journalists and election observers, who stayed awake all night to ensure free, fair and peaceful election.

The State Chairman of APC, Mr Basil Ejidike, expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the primary election.

Ejidike said that there was no violence during the exercise, as reported in some sections of the media.

He said that withdrawing from the race, as done by some aspirants, was by choice and also their constitutional right.

“This was part of why we decided to adopt indirect election in order to involve our members at the grassroots,” he said.

In a response, Ukachukwu promised to carry all the party members along in order to win the governorship election.

“As it stands now, I cannot do it alone without you.

“Therefore, I need your support, prayers and we have to work hard to win the governorship election,” he said.

He pledged to bring his wealth of experience to bear to ensure that the current administration of the All Progressives Grand Alliance would be defeated at the poll.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that INEC scheduled November 8 for the off-cycle poll. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Stanley Nwanosike/Sam Oditah

By Naomi Sharang

The Chairman, Senate Committee on Capital Market, Sen. Osita Izunaso, has commended President Bola Tinubu for signing the Investments and Securities Act (ISA) into law.

He said that the signing of the Investments and Securities Act (ISA), had set the stage for the 1 trillion dollar economy proposed by Tinubu’s administration.

Izunaso gave the assurance in an interview with journalists in Abuja on Wednesday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Izunaso had sponsored the Bill on the repeal and reenactment of the ISA which was signed by President Tinubu in March.

Tinubu had during his 2023 Presidential campaigns promised to build a jumbo-sized economy, aiming for a 1 trillion dollar GDP by 2030.

Speaking to newsmen, Izunaso also said that with the law in place, there would be an end to all forms of ponzi schemes in Nigeria but grow the digital assets as well as cryptocurrency

He said, “The Investment and Securities Act that has just been signed by Mr President is a holistic enactment.

“Because we repealed the 2007 ISA and re-enacted it in 2025 with the aim of resetting the entire investment and securities law in Nigeria.

“With what we have done, for the first time in the history of Nigeria, the digital assets as well as cryptocurrency has now been recognised as a form of security in Nigeria.

“This means that people can now trade with digital assets, people can now do cryptocurrency and it will be properly regulated by Securities and Exchange Commission.

“What it means is that the virtual asset services providers as well as the digital asset operators are today under the purview of SEC.”

According to Izunaso, Nigeria is about the second or the third globally in terms of cryptocurrency, saying that a lot of money had passed through the country without it being regulated.

He said, “Today, Mr President is talking about $1 trillion economy. By signing this Act into law, it means that Nigeria is set for that $1 trillion economy.

“If we want to achieve the $1 trillion economy that Mr President is envisaging, we must promote both the money market and the capital market.

“So today, the capital market has been reset for that purpose.

“I would also like to make it clear that the days of ponzi insider trading and market manipulations are over in Nigeria.

“Today, if you are caught in a ponzi market arrangement, you risk going to jail for 10 years.

“And you will in addition pay a fine of between N20 million to N40 million and all the money that you took from people will also be recovered from you.

“We have classified exchanges into two: You now have composite exchange and non-composite.

“Composite means that you can do multiple trading while non-composite is about single security trading. So the whole idea is to enhance proper market regulation and also mitigate risk.

“So this new law is now promoting investors’ confidence, repositioning Nigeria because hitherto, the ISA of 2007 was not in compliance with the International Organisation for Securities Commissions (IOSCO).

“The new law is now arranged in a manner that is now consistent with IOSCO standards and regulations.

“So you can trade anywhere now in Nigeria internationally, taking it from the records that is known.

“Not the records that are not known as we were doing it before. So there are so many areas.

“Today, we are making it more transparent for you to operate in the capital market,” he said.

The Senator also added that with the new law, the sub-nationals could now approach the capital market for long-term loans to finance their projects.

“With the new law, states and local governments can approach capital market for long-term funding.

“Instead of relying on federation accounts and commercial borrowing, states and the 774 LGAs can now go to capital market for long-term funding for projects,” he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Kevin Okunzuwa