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The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Enugu State has rejected the outcome of the December 5 Isiuzo State Constituency election in Enugu State.

The seat became vacant following the death of the former member representing the constituency, Chijioke Ugwueze.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Amaka Ugwueze , and wife of the deceased lawmaker as the winner of the election.

However, members of the APC from Isiuzo Local Government Area of the state on Monday staged a peaceful protest at the INEC office in Enugu.

One of the leaders of the protesters, Chinedu Jideofo-Ogbuagu, said the result as declared by the electoral umpire was unacceptable to them.

Mr Jideofo-Ogbuagu said the outcome of the exercise was contrary to how the people of the area cast their ballots.

He alleged that the victory of the APC in the election was ‘stolen’, adding that INEC ad hoc staff members collaborated with those who unleashed terror on the exercise.

“Majority of those who came out voted for the APC, but they used thugs to chase away the people and changed the results,” Mr Jideofo-Ogbuagu said.

Also, the APC candidate in the election, McDonald Ejiofor, said he had believed the assurances from INEC that the election would be free and fair.

Human rights activist, Aisha Yesufu has slammed President Muhammadu Buhari over his warning that no unlawful protest will be allowed under the guise of #EndSARS protest.

However, in a statement on Monday night, Oshiomhole said his position has not changed and that even if he was invited by the National Executive Committee NEC of the party to return to his seat, he would humbly decline such an offer

The statement reads; “In reporting the legal action taken by a member of the dissolved National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), some attributions have been made to the effect that plaintiff is an “ally of Oshiomhole” or an “associate of Oshiomhole.” the court documents are clear on who is the plaintiff.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the 21-member NWC under my leadership largely worked cohesively and harmoniously. The only exceptions were those of the three members used by forces desperate to take control of the party. They contrived a crisis and abused the judicial process to undermine the constitution and integrity of the party.

The majority of 18 members worked as a team and not as allies or loyalists of anybody.

“When the National Executive Committee (NEC) in its wisdom dissolved the NWC, I immediately announced publicly that I accepted the decision, regardless of its illegality or otherwise, as it affected my position as national chairman.

“I was the only one at the press conference where I made the announcement for personal reasons. The reason, of course, was that some of my colleagues in the dissolved NWC obviously didn’t share my position not to contest the dissolution in court. I can only accept responsibility for my own decision.

“Subsequently, I instructed my lawyers to withdraw the suits challenging my purported suspension from office by the proxies of those bent on removing me as chairman.

“It is, therefore, the height of mischief to insinuate, as it is being done in some quarters, that I would publicly accept the decision and later surreptitiously seek to contest it in court. That chapter of my political life is closed. Even if another NEC decision or a court order reverses the dissolution, with utmost humility I will decline to return as APC chairman.

I am proud of the accomplishments of the NWC under my leadership and I am grateful to the principled 18 members who worked as a team committed to the cause of the party.

“Above all, I bear no grudges against anyone for the manner of my removal.

Instead, I am grateful and loyal to President Muhammadu Buhari who encouraged me to contest the chairmanship of the party.

“I am also very much appreciative of the support of President Buhari who encouraged me to assert the authority of the party without fear or favour.

Indeed, I would not have lasted as long as I did as national chairman but for the Presidents and support for me. I will continue to support his administration to succeed in serving the common good  of the people of Nigeria”.

The Minister for Industry, Trade and Investment, Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo, said this on Monday in Abuja at the Grand Finale of the 2020 Ugwumba Enterprise Challenge for young leaders’ business start-ups, organised by the Ugwumba Centre for Leadership Development in Africa,UCLDA.

Noting that youths were a very significant part of any economy, the minister said Nigeria has a large youthful population, which were made up of creative, innovative, agile, and hardworking individuals with the potentials to become global leaders.

Hear him: “However, data from the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics shows that youths make up 64 percent of the total unemployed Nigerians. Partly as a result of this, many Nigerian youths, being ever resilient have directed their creative energy, ideas, and innovations into establishing MSMEs.

” These now constitute about 96 percent of the total number of enterprises, 50 percent of national GDP and 70 percent of the nation’s workforce.”

According to him, the government has commenced the review of Nigeria’s Investment Policy to promote investments that meet the country’s economic development objectives within the pillars of ‘RIBS’ (Responsible, Inclusive, Balanced and Sustainable Policy framework).

“Right now, under the Economic Sustainability Plan, the government is funding registration for 250,000 MSMEs, which would be registered at zero cost. We also concession two Brownfield Special Economic Zones (SEZs) while commencing work on developing four additional greenfield sites across the country,” he said.

Speaking earlier, the Founder of Ugwumba Centre for Leadership Development in Africa (UCLDA) and a former Commissioner for Land and Urban Development in Imo State, Ugwumba Uche Nwosu, explained that one of the initiatives of the Ugwumba Leadership Centre was the Ugwumba Enterprise Challenge.

He said: “This is an annual business pitching and grant competition to assist young entrepreneurs and innovators in Africa between 18 and 30 years to turn their skills, ideas, and passions into profitable business ventures and social enterprises.

“This is the third edition of this challenge and this year, winners will win N1m, N700,000; N500,000; N300,000; N200,000 respectively; while the sixth winner will win N100,000 personally donated by the Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo,”

On his part, Chairman of UCLDA and Emir of Dass, in Bauchi State, Alhaji Othman Bilyaminu Usman, tasked the nation’s youths to engage in profitable initiatives, explaining that doing so was in their interest and that of the country at large.

Her words, “He did when I was younger. I didn’t have sense”.