Category: General

Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia has disclosed the reasons behind his shift from priesthood to politics.

During a discussion with reporters at the Government House in Makurdi, Governor Alia recalled a light-hearted encounter with Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra State, who jovially teased him for transitioning from the priesthood to politics when asked about his motivations.

Reflecting on this, Governor Alia explained that his motivation stemmed from a desire to continue the church’s mission, which is to save souls and prevent people from being lost.

He viewed his entry into partisan politics as an extension of this purpose, aiming to serve and uplift the disadvantaged masses of Benue.

Alia, a Catholic priest turned politician who has held office for ten months, asserted that he had spent 33 years as a priest, deeply ingrained in the lives of his local community.

He had witnessed firsthand the struggles of the needy and marginalized, individuals who often lacked social representation and support.

Driven by a sense of duty to these vulnerable groups, the governor said he felt compelled to address the systemic injustices and neglect they faced.

Governor Alia emphasized that his decision was guided by a belief in God’s love for all people, particularly those who are overlooked and marginalized, and he was determined to advocate for their rights and well-being in the political arena.

Despite facing suspension from the priesthood due to his political aspirations, Alia clarified that the church doesn’t inherently oppose priests engaging in partisan politics, particularly in cases involving multiple political parties.

He explained that the church maintains reservations in such situations but also acknowledges circumstances where societal dysfunction necessitates a priest’s intervention to bring about positive change.

Governor Alia emphasized the importance of understanding this nuanced perspective, underscoring his commitment to serving and uplifting all individuals, especially those in need of assistance.

The post Why I Chose To Abandon Priesthood For Politics – Hyacinth Alia Opens Up appeared first on Naija News.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said nineteen political parties have submitted the details of their candidates for the November 16 governorship election in Ondo State.

The INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, Oluwatoyin Babalola, disclosed this on Friday during a meeting with political party representatives at the commission office in Akure, the state capital.

Babalola stated the parties involved have duly notified the commission about conducting their primaries for the governorship election in the state.

She said the political parties that have notified INEC include the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Accord Party (AP), Action Alliance (AA), African Action Congress (AAC), African Democratic Congress (ADC), African Democratic Party (ADP), and All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

Others are the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Action Peoples Party (APP), Boot Party (BP), Labour Party (LP), New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), National Rescue Movement (NRM), Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Social Democratic Party (SDP), Youth Party (YP), Young Progressives Party (YPP) and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).

The REC further informed that the commission received notification from the political parties for the conduct of primaries for the governorship election exercise billed to commence from April 6 to 27.

She stated that the meeting was an opportunity to engage with political parties on the upcoming party primaries and represented a critical juncture in the democratic journey in the State.

The INEC REC said the role of political parties in ensuring the success and integrity of the process cannot be overemphasized.

Babalola urged all parties to adhere strictly to the guidelines, rules, and regulations outlined in their constitutions and all electoral laws in the conduct of their primaries next month.

She, however, advised parties to entrench the principle of internal democracy in the conduct of their primaries to reduce tension, division, and pre-election cases that may arise after the primaries.

The post Ondo Guber: Only 19 Parties Have Submitted Candidates’ Details – INEC appeared first on Naija News.