9jablog: Politics

Showing posts with label Politics. Show all posts

Tuesday, August 11, 2020

INEC to challenge reversal of deregistration of 22 parties by Appeal Court

Lalemiayomide August 11, 2020 0

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that it will be challenging the Appeal Court judgement which reversed the deregistration of some political parties in the country at the Supreme Court.

Recall that the Court of Appeal in its judgement on Monday August 10, held that INEC ignored due process in exercising its powers under Section 225(a) of the Constitution (as amended).

However the electoral umpire's spokesperson, Festus Okoye who pointed out that same court had upheld and validated the power of INEC to deregister the parties in an appeal filed by the National Unity Party two weeks ago, affirmed that they will be seeking the verdict of the supreme court on the two conflicting judgements.

Okoye said;

“The Commission is faced with two conflicting judgements from the Court of Appeal; one affirming the powers of the Commission to deregister political parties and the other setting aside the deregistration of ACD & 22 others.

“Faced with two conflicting judgements from the same Court, the Commission is not in a position to pick and choose which one of them to obey.

“Consequently, the Commission will approach the Supreme Court for a final resolution of the issues raised in the two conflicting judgements.”

Tags # Politics Continue Reading

Friday, August 7, 2020

Oshiomhole wanted me to help him impeach Governor Obaseki – Edo Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu

Lalemiayomide August 07, 2020 0

The Deputy Governor of Edo State, Comrade Philip Shaibu has accused former Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Adams Oshiomhole of persuading him to join in the move to unseat Obaseki.

Speaking to newsmen on Thursday August 6, Shaibu said he begged Oshiomhole to let go of any grievance he had against Obaseki because the governor was doing well for the people of Edo state, but it all fell on deaf ears.

He added that after Oshiomhole declared war on Obaseki, he promised the former governor that he will stand with his successor come what may. Shaibu further alleged that the ploy was to remove Governor Obaseki for him to take over, but he refused because it was not in his “will nor nature” to betray.

The deputy governor who said he will fight to the very last to ensure that Obaseki is defended the same way he defended Oshiomhole when there were plots against him in Edo State, added that he will not stand for the form of oppression which Oshiomhole is championing.

Shaibu went on to challenge Oshiomhole to come and test his popularity when the votes are to be cast.

Tags # Politics Continue Reading

Wednesday, July 29, 2020

You must publish the names of lawmakers awarded NDDC contracts- House of Reps tell Akpabio

Lalemiayomide July 29, 2020 0

The last has not been heard regarding the faceoff between the House of Representatives and the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio.

In a statement released by its spokesperson, Benjamin Kalu on Tuesday, July 28, the House is insisting that the Minister must publish the names of the lawmakers that have been awarded. The House in the statement said the minister failed to substantiate the allegation that national assembly members get most of the NDDC contracts.

While appearing before a panel probing the alleged mismanagement of N81.5 billion by the interim management committee (IMC) of the NDDC, Akpabio had said federal lawmakers were the biggest beneficiaries of the contracts awarded by the commission.

Subsequently, the speaker of the House, Femi Gbajabiamila, gave the minister a 48-hour ultimatum to publish the names of the legislators who got those contracts or face legal action. Akpabio in a response letter, listed some senators and house of reps members as beneficiaries but they all denied getting the contracts. The House on July 23 resolved to issue a criminal complaint of perjury and civil defamation lawsuit against Akpabio after he failed to publish the names of members of the National Assembly that have been awarded contracts by the Niger Delta Development Commission NDDC.

Kalu in the statement released on Tuesday evening, July 28 accused Akpabio of sending a private letter to the speaker instead of publishing the names of those he accused of being beneficiaries of NDDC contracts.

“Instead of publishing the list for the world to see in the interest of transparency, the Minister in his usual diversionary tactics, chose to send an irrelevant 8-paragraph private letter to the Speaker regarding projects of 2018 which pre-date the 9th House of Representatives and had little to do with the bogus claims he made.

The House, therefore, reiterates that the Minister was given an ultimatum to publish names and not to write a personal letter to the Speaker. The Honourable Minister is hereby cautioned to desist from spinning tales and is invited to go public as instructed.” the statement read

Kalu said Akpabio’s letter was irrelevant to the issues raised, adding that the lawmakers were already evaluating the minister’s response and are still considering taking legal action against him if he fails to publish in detail the names of the lawmakers that have been awarded contracts by the Commission.

Read below the statement from Kalu

Following a motion unanimously adopted by the House, an investigation was ordered into the activities and financial malfeasance of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and its Interim Management Committee (IMC) between the periods of January to May 2020.

In a coordinated and calculated attempt to distract Nigerians from the ongoing investigation, the Minister of NDDC and the leadership of the IMC raised spurious allegations against members of the National Assembly.

The Minister claimed under oath that 60% of all the NDDC projects under investigation were awarded to members of the House between the months of January and May 2020.

Following this disturbing allegation, the leadership of the 9th House issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the Minister to publish a list of the legislators allegedly awarded 60% of the entire projects of NDDC between January and May 2020.

Instead of publishing the list for the world to see in the interest of transparency, the Minister in his usual diversionary tactics, chose to send an irrelevant 8-paragraph private letter to the Speaker regarding projects of 2018 which pre-date the 9th House of Representatives and had little to do with the bogus claims he made.

Nevertheless, it will interest Nigerians to know that paragraph 3 of the Minister’s letter fully exonerated the 9th Assembly. Also, in paragraph 7, the Minister completely withdrew his previous statement about 60% of the NDDC projects being awarded to members of the 9th Assembly.

It is also instructive for Nigerians to note that the total number of projects in the 2019 NDDC budget was 5,959 out of which 5,416 projects were rolled over from 2018, which the 9th Assembly obviously had no influence or control over.

Therefore, unable to prove his claims, the Minister presented an ineffectual spreadsheet of only 266 projects out of which about 20 projects were attracted by past members of the National Assembly as constituency projects, not as contractors, but in furtherance of their representative mandate.

The projects presented in the Minister’s letter are not within the scope of the investigation and do nothing to address the leadership’s ultimatum for him to publish the list of names of the members who he claimed took 60% of NDDC projects from January to May 2020.

Also, contrary to the mischievous narrative being peddled on the internet, the only mention of the Chairman of the NDDC Committee of the 9th House of Representatives, Rep. Tunji Ojo in that letter, was as to his alleged request for the complete payment of 19 contractors who had approached him with complaints over NDDC’s non-payment for their services.

This is, however, an allegation which has been completely refuted by Rep. Ojo and for which there is no evidence linking him.

The one member of the House mentioned in that letter only attracted the project to his federal constituency, in the same manner that the NDDC MD, EDFA, EDP, Chairman etc applied to the Commission for attention to the needs of their people and were obliged.

This attraction of projects does not in any way mean that contracts were personally awarded to them.

Additionally, the letter also listed the names of contract awardees with no evidence linking them to those who attracted the projects to the beneficiary communities. It takes lifting the corporate veil for the directors to be seen and the Corporate Affairs Commission is there to establish who the real owners of the companies are.

Until then, it is wrong to attempt to establish a nexus which currently does not exist. The document remains a mere spreadsheet of people who attracted projects to their communities in furtherance of their representative functions.

Furthermore, the directive to press charges against the Minister has not been lifted by the House as the leadership is busy considering the weight of the Honourable Minister’s letter. If it does not clear the doubt and wrong perception, it will be sent to the court for clearance as the Speaker stated.

Once again, the letter’s annexures showing 2018 projects have no relevance to what was requested from the Minister because it was outside the scope of his claims, it was also not comprehensive but selective by mentioning only one current member for attracting projects to his constituency and not for receiving contracts.

The House is mindful of a letter currently before it where the Minister also applied to attract several projects to his Senatorial Zone during his time at the Senate, does it mean the contracts were awarded to him?

Nigerians are encouraged to ignore the deflections of the Honourable Minister and continue to ask the right questions as to what happened to the money of the region which has led to a gross disservice to Niger-Deltans.

Nigerians should start asking the right questions and demanding the right answers; and the right question remains, “What happened to Nigeria’s ?81.5billion under the charge of NDDC in the space of 6 months?”

Tags # Politics Continue Reading

I cannot understand how you can leave the light of PDP and willingly enter APC's darkness- FFK reacts to Dogara's defection

Lalemiayomide July 29, 2020 0

I cannot understand how you can leave the light of PDP and willingly enter APC

Femi Fani-Kayode, a former Minister of Aviation and a chieftain of the PDP, has expressed shock at the defection of former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, from PDP to APC.

Dogara on Friday, July 24, defected from the PDP to the APC after a meeting with President Buhari.

In a statement released on his Twitter handle this morning, FFK said he cannot understand how a good man such as Dogara can leave the "light of the PDP and willingly enter the darkness of the APC."

He says he is convinced Dogara is under a spell to have made such a decision. He appealed to Dogara to ''get deliverance, retrace his steps and leave the camp of the Egyptians and Philistines before it is too late to return to the ranks of the righteous and the faithful''.

His statement reads

Yakubu Dogara was not just a leader in the PDP but he was also Speaker of the House. When he left APC and joined PDP, he was welcomed with joy and open arms. He enjoyed immense goodwill in the party and always exhibited the traits of a kind-hearted, soft-spoken & warm gentleman. He is also a very good Christian.

Given all this I cannot understand how such a good man can leave the light of PDP & willingly enter into the darkness of APC.

It is simply unbelievable & inexplicable. This is especially so given the fact that I happen to know that my brother Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi state treated him with so much respect, generosity and kindness.

I am convinced that he has been put under a spell and is the victim of some form of demonic ritual voodoo spell & witchcraft. I expect nothing less from the APC because that is their stock in trade. They are a party whose leaders are well versed in the black arts, the occult & sorcery.

My prayer is that God delivers Dogara & cause him to come to his senses .It is never too late to return to the light and I believe that one day he will. This is because nothing good can come from the darkness of satan and those that bask in it and worship and serve him.

Nothing wholesome can EVER come out of APC because it is a party of heartless and merciless thugs, cultists, fraudsters, rogues and gangsters that is steeped in blood. It is the darkness that seeks the darkness.

Yakubu is far too good to be part of this bloodsucking coven of warlocks and witches and I have no doubt that his great, gallant and noble Sayyawa people, whom I am very close to and who I know well, will NEVER follow him there. I urge him to remember that there is NO fellowship between light and darkness and that he is a child of light and a son of the Living God.

I implore him to get deliverance, retrace his steps and leave the camp of the Egyptians and Philistines before it is too late and before they use, dump, rubbish and destroy him. I urge him to return to the ran the faithful and to be the man that he was destined to be.''

I cannot understand how you can leave the light of PDP and willingly enter APC

Tags # Politics Continue Reading

Tuesday, July 28, 2020

Dogara's 2023 Vice Presidential ambition is likely the reason for his defection - PDP BoT chairman alleges

Lalemiayomide July 28, 2020 0

The Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has hinged the defection of the former speaker of the House of Representatives Yakubu Dogara, on his 2023 Vice Presidential ambition.

PDP's BoT Chairman, Senator Walid Jubril said in a statement that the lawmaker did not explore all the available dispute resolution mechanisms within the PDP before defecting to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Jubril who urged members of the party to remain united, further stated that Dogara might have left the PDP because of his underground plans to run for the office of the Vice President in 2023.

The statement read;

I have read with mixed feelings the reason given by former speaker House of Representatives Mr. Yakubu Dogara for decamping to APC.

I am equally sorry for Dogara for not adhering to all avenues available in the party constitution for settlement of disputes or complaints by a member of the party.

I became more disturbed when the reasons given by Mr Dogara for his decamping considering his position as a former speaker.

In his position as a member of BoT, Mr Dogara has never laid any complaints to me as the Chairman of BoT which is the highest advisory organ of the party and remained the conscious of the party.

Considering seriously reasons given by Dogara for his decamping, one is compelled to say that Mr Dogara has other strong reasons for leaving PDP. I am beginning to suspect that the former speaker has underground motives for joining APC.

I begin to suspect that Mr Dogara has a plan of becoming President or Vice President in 2023 which he knows he will never archive in PDP.

I want to assure the former speaker that PDP shall continue to be very strong and united and its doors remain open to all Nigerians therefore PDP will never accept any plan from anybody to destroy the party.

As Chairman of BoT, I urge all members of the party to remain calm and strong as the BoT will continue to play its role as the conscience of the party as contained in its constitution.

Similarly, BoT is in total support of Godwin Obaseki in becoming the new Governor of Edo State. BOT is making its arrangements to visit Edo in order to ensure the success of Obaseki.

BoT will also visit our PDP Governors and party hierarchy in the states. No shaking at all, victory is ours.

This is coming after Dogara stated that he returned back to the APC due to breakdown of governance in Bauchi State under the administration of Governor Bala Mohammed whom he “helped install” as a governor in the 2019 general elections.

Tags # Politics Continue Reading

Monday, July 27, 2020

Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio reveals names of National Assembly members linked to NDDC contracts

Lalemiayomide July 27, 2020 0

The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio, has linked some members of the National Assembly to some contracts awarded by the Niger Delta Development Commission.

Punch reports that Akpabio in a list in which he copied the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, enlisted the former Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on the NDDC, Nicholas Mutu, who represents the Bomadi/Patani Federal Constituency of Delta State, as one of the lawmakers that have been awarded contracts by the Commission. According to him, Mutu who was arraigned in court in February this year by the EFCC for alleged abuse of office and N320m fraud, received 74 projects including various emergency road projects in Delta, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, and Rivers states.

Akpabio, who is a former governor of Akwa Ibom state, also linked the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Peter Nwaoboshi (Delta-North), with 53 projects, which included emergency repairs of Asue Street, Owa Phase 2; ldumuogbe Road via Ojemaye; Otolokpo College Road, Otolokpo; and the Police lshu Ani Ukwu Road, Issele Uku.

Other lawmakers that Akpabio listed projects against are Senator Matthew Urhoghide (Edo-South), six; James Manager (Delta-South), six; Samuel Anyanwu (Imo-West, 8th Senate), 19; and others simply identified as Ondo and Edo Reps.

The minister, however, did not provide the cost of the projects listed against the lawmakers’ names, while the cost of contracts given to non-lawmakers had costs of various projects attached to them.

Akpabio did not also state if the lawmakers were directly awarded the contracts or they nominated the projects under their Zonal Intervention Projects, also known as constituency projects.

On Monday, July 20, Akpabio while testifying at the House of Representatives panel investigating allegations of financial recklessness at the NDDC, alleged that most of the contracts awarded in the Commission were to members of the National Assembly.

On Tuesday, July 21, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, gave the Minister 48 hours to release the names of the lawmakers in question or face punitive measures.

After the two-day ultimatum had expired, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, directed the clerk of the House to institute a lawsuit against Akpabio after he failed to release the names of the National Assemblies members that have been awarded contracts by NDDC.

Akpabio in a letter that was later read on the floor of the House of Representatives by the Speaker, denied saying 60% of the contracts were awarded to lawmakers.

Tags # Politics Continue Reading

Ex-Speaker, Yakubu Dogara gives reasons for defecting from PDP to APC

Lalemiayomide July 27, 2020 0

A former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has explained why he defected from the PDP to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

On Friday, Dogara returned to APC from PDP after he met with President Buhari in the villa. He had first dumped PDP ahead of the 2015 general election and joined APC. He dumped the APC again for PDP in 2018 ahead of the 2019 polls. He has now defected back to APC.

In a letter of resignation addressed to Bogoro ‘C’ Ward chairman of the PDP in Bauchi state, Dogara who represents Bogoro/Dass/Tafawa Balewa federal constituency in the House of Representatives, hinged his decision to defect from the party to the "failure or breakdown of governance in Bauchi under the administration of Governor Bala Mohammed."

According to him, the governor, whom he helped into power, has not lived up to expectation.

Read his letter of resignation:

I write to intimate you of my decision to resign my membership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

This became necessary because the same reasons why we fought hard in 2019 to effect changes in the Governance of our dear state are festering now.

I intend to bring these issues to the front burners once again as the fight to install decent and egalitarian government in our dear state continues.

Specifically, I intend to ask questions about the following:

a. What has happened to LGA allocations since May 2019?

b. What happened to our campaign promise to conduct LGA elections within six months of the PDP government?

c. What happened to the N4.6 billion loan taken from a bank and paid directly into an private company’s account?

d. Why are we segmenting salaries and why is payment of salaries of state workers outsourced to a private firm as consultants?

e. Why are contracts inflated, awarded and payment of mobilisation done in violation of extant rules on procurement?

f. Why are our highly revered Traditional Rulers and Elders treated with odium contrary to the guarantee we gave during the campaign that such will not happen under a PDP government?

Mr. Chairman, you will agree with me that I cannot raise these issues and many more questions without a charge of disloyalty levelled against me if I were to remain a member of the PDP.

I cannot also fail to raise these questions now, having raised similar ones during the administrations of Governors Isa Yuguda and Mohammed A. Abubakar. If I abdicate this responsibility on the altar of partisan loyalty, I will be the most irresponsible and unprincipled politician in Bauchi State.

Thus, by this letter, I have resigned my membership of the PDP to enable me keep faith with my principle of fighting for good governance in our Dear State.

Thank you for your kind considerations.

Tags # Politics Continue Reading

Friday, July 24, 2020

PDP leaders provided the materials we used to disqualify Obaseki - Oshiomhole Reveals

Lalemiayomide July 24, 2020 0

Adams Oshiomhole, the suspended national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has disclosed that Governor Godwin Obaseki was disqualified with materials provided by the People's Democratic Party (PDP).

The APC Chieftain who spoke at his residence in Benin on Thursday July 23, insisted that they don't want to repeat same mistake they made in Bayelsa state in 2019.

Oshiomhole said;

“In 2016, PDP took Obaseki to court that he forged certificates. Now, you remember one governor that said there are tax collectors, when something moved, they collected the taxes and the certificates became okay.

“But let me tell you, members of APC’s screening committee knew that the man who forged documents, even if you vote for him, you know what happened to us in Bayelsa state.

“So, I need to assure you that the decision of the screening committee members to disqualify the sitting governor was based on the evidence provided by PDP leaders in 2016, which they found to be correct and you do not repeat the same mistake twice.

“The only task we have is to go to every unit, every community, every ward, every local government area and remind them of where we stopped and ask them since we left, what new thing has been brought?

“If I failed Godwin Obaseki’s examination, by the grace of God on Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, I will score A1.”

Tags # Politics Continue Reading

Monday, July 13, 2020

Magu corruption allegations: Ignore PDP's fake lamentation. They are the founders of corruption in Nigeria- APC tells Nigerians

Lalemiayomide July 13, 2020 0

The All Progressives Congress, APC, has asked Nigerians to ignore the ''fake lamentation'' from the PDP over the corruption allegations leveled against Magu and the EFCC.

A statement released by the Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Yekini Nabena this morning July 13, argued that the PDP has no moral right to comment on the recent corruption allegation against Magu because the party who was in power for 16 years, is the founder of corruption in Nigeria.

The APC opined that the fact that Magu is being investigated by Buhari-led government should send a signal to those that have blackmailed the anti-corruption crusade of this administration.

The party's statement reads

''The All Progressives Congress (APC) wishes to assure all Nigerians that the administration of Muhammad Buhari will not condole any form of corrupt practices even as the administration is committed to fighting corruption as promised.

The former ruling party PDP does not have what it takes to lament about it's alleged corruption practices in the present administration of APC. It is on records that the PDP is the founder of corruption in Nigeria

to the extent that the evil practices were made official way of life during its 16 wasteful years.

In APC's government nobody is above the law. For the fact that the suspended acting chairman of the EFCC Ibrahim Magu is being investigated should send a signal to all those who think and have blackmailed the government's anti-corruption battle.

The Nigerian President has assured that there is no hiding place for any corrupt government official in this administration being led by an incorruptible personality, in person of President Buhari.

So, Nigerians should ignore the fake lamentations of an unrepentant corrupt PDP. The main opposition party is only pained that it's no longer in government, PDP does not have history of caring for the people even when the revenue generations were at the highest levels.''

Magu corruption allegations: Ignore PDP

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Wednesday, July 1, 2020

INEC publishes names of candidates for Edo governorship election (see full list)

Lalemiayomide July 01, 2020 0

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has published the full list of candidates contesting in Edo governorship election, scheduled to hold on September 19.

There are 14 candidates on the list and they include 13 males and one female. Festus Okoye, INEC national commissioner and chairman, information and voter education committee encouraged members of the public to go through the list and also challenge any information they believe is false in any of the affidavit or any document submitted by the candidates.

Okoye said;

“At the close of nominations at 6pm on June 29, 2020, 14 political parties used the dedicated online portal of the commission to submit the list of candidates that emerged from their primaries.

“The provisional list of the candidates disaggregated on the basis of name, gender, age and qualification has been uploaded on our website and social media platforms. Furthermore, and as required by law, the particulars of the nominated candidates will be published in the Edo State office of the commission and simultaneously uploaded on our website Thursday, July 2, 2020.

“The final list of duly nominated candidates will be published on August 13 2020 after withdrawals by candidates and substitution by their political parties.”

Below is the list:

AA – Obhafuoso Paul, E — Governor; Sunday Johnbull — Deputy Governor

ADC – Akhigbe B Ehiabhi — Governor; Mabel Oboh — Deputy Governor

ADP- Ibio L Emmanuel — Governor; Demond Imasuen — Deputy Governor

APC- Osagie Andrew Ize-Iyamu—Governor; Audu Ganiyu — Deputy Governor

APGA- Lucky Osagie Idehen—Governor; Isah Asekhaimeh — Deputy Governor

APM- Igbineweka Osamuede—Governor; Obiyan Christian — Deputy Governor

APP- Amos Osalumese Areloegbe—Governor; Afolabi Ogah — Deputy Governor

LP- Osifo Uhun-Ekpenma Isaiah—Governor; Omobayo Marvellous—Deputy Governor

NNPP- Agolebun Tracy—Governor; Enobhaysobo Jonathan — Deputy Governor

NRM- Stevie Nash Ozono—Governor; Osadolor Eghe Festus— Deputy Governor

PDP- Godwin Nogheghase Obaseki—Governor; Philip Shaibu— Deputy Governor

SDP- Felix Ikezor Obayangbon—Governor; Omion Omonye— Deputy Governor

YPP- Jones Osagiobare—Governor; Samson Olukayode Idowu— Deputy Governor

ZLP- Akhalamhe Amiemenoghena—Governor; Thompson Osadolor—Deputy Governor

Tags # Politics Continue Reading

Sunday, June 28, 2020

I’m happy APC is in crisis. I hope they continue to make mistakes - Governor Nyesom Wike

Lalemiayomide June 28, 2020 0

I?m happy APC is in crisis. I hope they continue to make mistakes - Governor Nyesom Wike

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers state says he is happy about the crisis rocking the ruling APC and prays that the party continues to make mistakes and remain in crisis.

Wike, a chieftain of the PDP, said this in a recent interview with Arise TV.

“I am happy that APC is in crisis. It is not my business to help APC to be united. Remember that we also had our own crisis under Ali Modu Sheriff and APC jubilated about it then. It is my prayer that they should continue to be in crisis. We have taken another state. Unfortunately, APC isn’t really a political party. They came together just to take overpower.

I want my party to be in power and therefore, I cannot be praying for APC not to have crisis. I hope they continue to make mistakes everyday and my party will continue to grow” he said

On the emergence of Godwin Obaseki as the governorship candidate of PDP in Edo state, Wike said he has no problem with it. He said his main concern is for every party member in the state to be carried along as the state prepares for the governorship election on September 19 this year.

Tags # News # Politics Continue Reading

Saturday, June 27, 2020

10 PDP governors will soon defect to APC - Governor Yahaya Bello

Lalemiayomide June 27, 2020 0

Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State has disclosed that 10 governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will be defecting to the All Progressives Congress (APC) soon.

The Kogi state Governor who appeared as a guest on Channels TV "Sunrise Daily" programme, said this when asked if the APC will disintegrate when President Muhammadu Buhari leaves office.

Bello said;

“APC is getting stronger and like I said, it’s going to be proved in the next few days or the next few weeks to come in the election of Edo state, Ondo state, Anambra state, Ekiti state, Osun state.

“It’s unfortunate that our colleague, my brother and my in-law, Obaseki has left us, but as a party and a party-loyal man, we have to reclaim him.

“I can tell you that there are up to 10 PDP governors ready to join APC and that would happen very soon.”

On if Bola Tinubu is being sidelined from APC activities, Bello said;

“Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a leader, a father, a founding member of this great party. He contributed immensely to making sure that the party attains the height it has attained today. He has paid his due and continues to pay his due.

“Nobody, however highly placed or lowly placed you are in the party, will ever undermine that great leader. Nobody is undermining him. He is still a father; he’s one of our national leaders and he continues to contribute.

“In the whole of this misunderstanding so far, nobody has heard him making any comments for or against anybody that has different or opposing opinion. Rather, he continues to maintain and play that fatherly role. Both APC and PDP gravitate towards him.

“So, nobody is going to say that he’s being undermined or he’s going to be removed. No. We need him; he needs us and he will continue to be a leader of our great party.”

Tags # News # Politics Continue Reading

Friday, June 26, 2020

APC Crisis: Buhari is happy we have one less distraction at last - Governor Bagudu

Lalemiayomide June 26, 2020 0

Governor Atiku Bagudu has disclosed that President Buhari is happy that the crisis rocking the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been resolved.

Bagudu who disclosed this at an interview with state house correspondents after the caretaker committee of the APC visited Buhari at the presidential villa on Friday June 26, said President Buhari does not interfere in the affairs of the party as he is focused on the mandate Nigerians handed to him.

He said;

“He (Buhari) is happy that at last we have one less distraction… Mr President is conscious of the mandate given to him by Nigerians and even though he bothers a lot about his party, but what dominate his daily action are economy, security, transparency and the progress of Nigeria. So he’s very happy.

“This is a thank you visit to Mr President. I have in the delegation the brand new Chairman of the All Progressives Congress Caretaker and Extraordinary National Convention Planning Committee, the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, Kayode Fayemi member of the Caretaker and Extraordinary National Convention Committee, representing the North-Central, His Excellency, Alhaji Abubakar Bello, the Kogi State governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello and myself.

“We thanked Mr President for all he has been doing for the Progressive family, which culminated in the visionary and momentous resolution of party disputes that took place yesterday. Testimonials, news, commentaries, media from across the country are all happy for what has been done yesterday.

"Equally, to appreciate all the gains that had been made under his capable, brilliant and visionary leadership. Our country is more food secured, the economy, though challenged by the coronavirus pandemic and recovering from the 2016 recession, is doing better than most countries in similar situation.

“Accountability has increased tremendously, we are hearing of security gains on daily basis in all parts of the country and those are what Mr President campaigned upon and Nigeria has one of the most robust responses to the coronavirus pandemic, all because of his thoughtful imaginative and patriotic leadership.

“At the same time, it’s to introduce, yet again, the Chairman of our Caretaker and Extraordinary National Convention planning Committee, who is a very seasoned administrator and politician, the governor of Yobe State, His Excellency, Mai Mala Buni, and to thank him on behalf of the Progressive Governors’ Forum for deeming it so fit to include three governors in the committee: the Chairman, governor of Niger State and the governor of Osun State; Gboyega Isiaka Oyetola.”

On some members of the dissolved NWC seeking redress in court, Bagudu added;

“Media says a lot of things, but Mr President is very clear that he received due legal advice and remember, before the 2019 primaries, Mr President demonstrated to everyone in this country that he will never sacrifice due process for expediency. Even when it was convenient to extend tenure of the then executive so that we don’t have a convention and primary at the same time, Mr President said no, no matter how tough it is, we are going to do the correct legal thing. So Mr President will never do anything which the constitutional provisions of party, talk less of the country, does not allow him to do.”

Tags # Politics Continue Reading

Wednesday, June 24, 2020

Court strikes out suit seeking to stop Governor Godwin Obaseki from participating in Edo PDP governorship primary

Lalemiayomide June 24, 2020 0

Justice Emmanuel Obile of the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has struck out a suit seeking to bar Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, from participating in the governorship primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) scheduled for Thursday, June 25.

The judge struck out the suit following a successful out of court settlement by all the parties.

One of the aspirants for the governorship ticket of the party, Omoregie Ogbeide Ihama, had approached the court to seek an order to stop Governor Obaseki from participating in the governorship primary. Ihama argued that only those who purchased the governorship forms within the stipulated time should be allowed to participate in the primary election.

However, after he reportedly struck a deal with the party and Governor Obaseki, he instructed his lawyers to withdraw the case.

Obaseki resigned from APC on June 16 and joined the PDP on June 19. He was given a waiver and allowed to purchase the party's governorship form and join the race for the party's governorship ticket, a decision that threw the party into crisis.

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Conflicting Court Orders Can Disrupt Conduct Of Elections In Edo - INEC

Lalemiayomide June 24, 2020 0

INEC’s national commissioner for information and voter education Festus Okoye said on Tuesday June 23 that they convened a meeting due to the crisis which might impede the smooth conduct of primaries and the forthcoming governorship election in Edo state.

Okoye disclosed that they resolved that the conduct of party primaries and resolution of disputes should end on June 27, while the submission of the list of candidates the parties propose to present at the election and affidavits of validly nominated candidates will close at 6pm on June 29, 2020.

The INEC Commissioner said;

“In view of this and as part of its commitment to deepen the use of technology in elections, the commission will conduct a training programme for Liaison Officers nominated by all the registered Political Parties on the use of the INEC Portal for uploading nomination forms of candidates.

“The training will take place at the Conference Hall of the Commission on Thursday 26th and Friday 27th June 2020 in two batches, to allow for physical distancing in line with the COVID-19 protocols.

“Political Parties should note that the organisation and scheduling of various activities and processes leading to the conduct of elections are complex and involve extensive and careful planning and any disruption of these processes comes at a huge cost to the nation.

“The spate and tenor of pre-election litigations and the conflicting orders emanating therefrom can harm the smooth conduct of primaries and the upcoming elections.”

The electoral commission which stated that it is ready to obey all orders and judgements in accordance with the rule of law, added that it is closely monitoring cases arising from the administration of political parties, conduct of primaries and nomination of candidates.

INEC also revealed that it considered the report from the meeting of the inter-agency consultative committee on election security (ICCES), which recently approved a code of conduct and rules of engagement for security officials on electoral duty. This will be uploaded on the websites of INEC, the office of the NSA and the Nigeria police force on June 25.

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Tuesday, June 23, 2020

[BREAKING] Court bars PDP from conducting Edo governorship primaries scheduled for June 25

Lalemiayomide June 23, 2020 0

A Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State has barred the Edo state chapter of the People’s Democratic Party from conducting the governorship primary election scheduled for Thursday, June 25.

This was following a suit brought before the court on Monday, June 22 by one of the governorship aspirants of the PDP, Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama, who had vowed not to step down for Governor Godwin Obaseki.

The presiding judge granted the experte order and allowed the defendant to serve the parties in the suit through substituted means, in two national dailies, and adjourned the case till June 24 for hearing of the summon.

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Court restrains Obaseki from participating in PDP primaries

Lalemiayomide June 23, 2020 0

Justice E.A Obile of a Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, has restrained Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, from participating in the governorship primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) scheduled to hold on Thursday, June 25, 2020.

Justice Obile gave the order in a suit filed by another PDP governorship aspirant, Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama, who insisted that Obaseki did not purchase PDP form or undergo screening within the time-table schedule.

The Court, which fixed hearing on the suit for Wednesday, June 24, 2020, also okayed accelerated hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice for Interlocutory Injunction.

Joined in the suit were Prince Uche Secondus, Emmanuel Ogidi, Hon. Kingsley Chinda and Chief Derekeme Boyleyefa. Others are Senator James Manager and Hon. Barrister Ajibola Muraina as well as Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Obaseki resigned membership from APC on June 16 and Defection to PDP on June19 with the hope of being the party's flagbearer in the Edo state governorship election.

Court restrains Obaseki from participating in PDP primaries

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I’m happy APC is in crisis. I hope they continue to make mistakes - Governor Nyesom Wike

Saturday, June 27, 2020

10 PDP governors will soon defect to APC - Governor Yahaya Bello

Friday, June 26, 2020

APC Crisis: Buhari is happy we have one less distraction at last - Governor Bagudu

Wednesday, June 24, 2020

Court strikes out suit seeking to stop Governor Godwin Obaseki from participating in Edo PDP governorship primary

Conflicting Court Orders Can Disrupt Conduct Of Elections In Edo - INEC

Tuesday, June 23, 2020

[BREAKING] Court bars PDP from conducting Edo governorship primaries scheduled for June 25

Court restrains Obaseki from participating in PDP primaries

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