₦airaland Forum

wadetaw202:
If you must know Mr, the catholic church is not like your church where your GOs preside for million years over just one church. In the catholic church, the priest is transfered after 5 years in a parish.

You can compare a GO to a pope. Not a parish priest.

Parish priests are just like parish pastors in say RCCG. They are regularly transferred too.

Ebukaobi:
Interesting

So the Vanguard purposely manipulated the actual events to suit their own agenda

This is disgraceful behavior from this PDP apologists

Don't be quick to condemn Vanguard. I complained to the mods yesterday and they did nothing about it. The story that was posted alongside the link to Vanguard is very different to the story on Vanguard site itself. You can check it yourself from that thread that hit front page yesterday.

Adminisher:
This is an idiotic post. You destroyed everything good in it by mentioning GEJ. The BBOG ran into an angry General. The man was pissed off with two institutions today; the Press and the Senate . It did not concern the BBOG who also did their own annoying thing; demonstrate throughout Abuja and then paid an unexpected, impromptu visit to the President. The source of Buhari's anger was the noise about stealing if submitted budget.

The two sides have a lot to learn. Buhari has to remember that being President is the most annoying office on earth and yet you have to be contained. Even ghetto hood you are found earns you negative rewards from your people at yikes. The BBOG should be more circumspect in behaviour and stop playing your the gallery

Don't be quick to believe everything these wailers post. They are very devilish. The story was lifted from their own propaganda media, they then put Vanguard as the source.

If u read the Vanguard story, u'll discover it is very different from what was updated on this thread.

Elose11:
Source: https://twitter.com/EiENigeria



Source: https://twitter.com/EiENigeria


UPDATE

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/01/buhari-storms-out-of-meeting-with-bbog-as-mama-taraba-chides-organisers-chibok-parents/

Mods: Mynd44, lalasticlala, Seun, I think u need to lock this false thread.

The story that Vanguard wrote is very different from what was posted here. The OP just used Vanguard to give the false news some authenticity.

Nice thread.

Chosen1984:
I don't think so... Enlighten me

Saudi Arabia is the largest producer of oil after the US. Saudi Arabia is also bordered by countries that supply significant quantities of crude such as Bahrain, Qatar, UAE, Kuwait and Iraq. 

If a conflict/war occurs in this region, it will seriously affect the supply of crude, which will ultimately lead to a significant increase in price. The lesser the supply, the higher the price.

Iran has consistently threatened to block the strait of Homuz if threatened by the US and its allies. A very significant quantity of the produced crude oil in the world is transported through this place. Infact this is the major reason why US has also been prevailing on Isreal to dialogue with Iran instead of attacking Iran.

Recall that the first gulf war btw US and Iraq led to an upward surge in crude oil prices.

The recent invasion of Iraq also led to an increase in oil prices that Obj, Yaradua and GEJ enjoyed.

Infact if Saudi Arabia and it's allies attack Iran....the kind of increase in fuel price that will happen will be unprecedented.

Chosen1984:
Not news anymore!! Expecting further decline with the clash btw Saudi and Iran

If the disagreement leads to a conflict, it will lead to increase in prices and not decline.

If they start a war, it will be a blessing in disguise for Nigeria. Oil prices will surge massively.

kevinscore:
We can still scale through this,japan and china doesn't have a single oil field but they are among the world's richest country.

Pls cross check your facts. China do have oil fields. Just that, It is not enough for their domestic consumption. And just like US, they are purposely reserving oil for security reasons.

Aufbauh:
This is not unexpected. The only opposition to PMB's administration as far as i am concerned are the ever embittered biafrans that have been given to a reprobate mind and some pockets of unpatriotic Jonathanians that see nothing good about the person of Buhari.
The above fact is verifiable from previous snapshots, online commentaries and street talks.

This set of people overhyped their numerical influence on Internet by throwing tantrums at every turn of time, even though they represent the unstrategic minority.

I challenge them to conduct an election between their most potent hero and PMB, they'll realise that Buhari's support base has been grown geometrically after the April election. Even their Zero hero GEJ cannot garner a 5m votes against Buhari if the election is repeated.

Buhari's mandate is the people's mandate and we can't just help those who have decided to wail ceaselessly without a cause.
Just like the saying goes, the minority will have their say but the majority will always have their ways.

This is so true and on point. But it is not all Biafrans that are chronically embittered about the President. It is just a number of them that likes to make noise on the media.

asuustrike2009:
the main reason why the price of. fuel isn't high or felt is because of fall in oil price. supposing the price of oil increases, you will be buying fuel at N130 or more

That is possible. That is what my reason 6 talks about. The govt was strategic in removing the subsidy now, while hoping local production will pick up before international prices increase.

if we have sufficient local production, it may not be priced at 130naira/litre even if crude oil prices increase internationally. it is possible it is lower than that.

Airforce1:
I've been hearing/reading lot of stories about fuel subsidy removal but I don't know what and how it's removal is gonna affect my daily life.

I need an enlightenment please because fuel pump price is still N95 here in Ikeja.

You are a liar and must be very dull.

Which filling station in Ikeja did u buy fuel at 95naira/litre??

There is fuel everywhere in Lagos without any queue at the recommended pump price. I was still in Ikeja today and I took interest in looking at a lot of filling stations just because I plan to buy fuel after service.

After service I covered a significant part of Lagos as the roads were very free and I can boldy tell u that there is fuel in LAGOS not even only Ikeja at govt modulated prices without queues.

This is a new year, you better drop the spirit of bad belle and lying.

Dcomrade:
But the people occupying government now, while in opposition openly campaigned against subsidy removal.....so what has change now?

You lots cannot blackmail the APC and the intelligent people that protested against the irrational removal of subsidy in 2011 by your ignorance (feigned or real) and attempts at prevarication.

Maybe u need to go and have a look at the speeches and arguments of subsidy removal of 2011 again, if indeed your mind is open to unbias.

No one entirely tagged subsidy removal as evil. Infact a lot of APC governors supported subsidy removal.

The CBN governor then, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi supported subsidy removal. A lot of hate-filled souls prefer to lambast that smart man when it is convenient for them and it suits their bigoted position. But prefer to abuse him and call him a bigot if he is on an opposing view to their stance. What an undemocratic animalistic behaviour.

The main opposition to subsidy then was premised on the fact that subsidy rose from about 250,300,350 billion in 2008, 2009 & 2010 respectively to about 1.5trillion in 2011 without any rational explanation from the govt.

The govt itself agreed that the subsidy regime was entrenched in so much corruption, yet no one was brought to book!

That is the greatest disservice that govt did to the nation. How can govt be duped of billions of naira, yet nothing was done to the thieves who were even around govt circles and flaunting their loot, yet you want the citizenry to pay for such ineptitude.

It doesn't happen anywhere!

We cannot be made to pay for the ineptitude and incapacity of the govt.

That singular action of govt at that time, which resulted in the prices of petrol spiralling from 65naira/litre to above 145 naira/litre was very insensitive and wicked.

And I can assure you that anywhere democracy is being practised in the world, that action of the GEJ administration will be resisted by the people. It is so simple. I don't why a lot of you is taking it as personal thing against Jona.

Corruption was on the highest levels, refineries were comatose, govt did not properly sensitize the citizenry before arbitrarily making pump price more than double it's price.

Infact, it was like a coup against the people as this was the new year gift the govt meted out to them, and u think it will not be resisted by civil groups and labour unions??

Sincerely I can recollect that I felt that sharp increase badly. I work in VI and live around Berger. I usually use one full tank to go to work per week. It was so difficult to adjust to the new price. I was formerly filling my tank with about 4k, after the arbitrary increase, it climbed to about 9k. Transportation cost hit the rocks in Lag.

Transportation is expensive in Lag, and waking up to see it has been more than doubled will definitely cause a social upheaval. It doesn't take a genius to predict this.

Increase in fuel price in Nigeria always lead to a corresponding increase in price of a lot of commodities. Which means prices of everything at that time also more than doubled while the citizens were still on same income.

How won't people protest?? Moreso when they were hearing stories of people defrauding the govt of billions of naira and no one was punished.

Now let me tell u the things that has changed.

1. The current subsidy removal did not lead to an unreasonable increase in the price of a litre of petrol.

2. The present govt has shown a readiness to fight corruption by its words and actions. And there was no scadal about people defrauding the govt of billions before the subsidy removal.

3. There is improved sensitization of the people before the subsidy removal. People are now more aware of the advantages of removing subsidy coupled with the fact that d removal will not cause a marked increase in price.

4. Reasonable & intelligent people have seen a genuine attempt by the govt to reactivate the refineries and bring them back to operation. While keeping corruption at the barest minimum thru the operation of the TSA.

5. Reasonable and intelligent people have seen that the govt of the day is trying all it can to block leakages, and are not showing hopelessness in the midst of massive corruption, and are therefore willing to support them by themselves taking on a little liability.

6. The govt of the day took the decision in a strategic way, while hoping before prices pick up in the international market, they would have been able to resuscitate the refineries and up local production.

PRAGBRAND:
Fact about Cybpower Inverter

CyberPower is a well-known and much appreciated brand of inverter. Designed with state-of-the-art micro-controller technology for efficient power availability during NEPA failure, it is noiseless, maintenance free and has auto change over for seamless power transition.
It has low cost-to-benefit ratio, faster charging (3 to 5 times faster) than other brands, generator compatibility (works with all generators), affordable DC input voltage and battery expansion capability.
The uniqueness of the product in the local market includes its battery expansion capability, automatic voltage regulation, intelligent display (tells you all you need to know - inverter load, battery remaining capacity etc) as it removes guess work in inverter management which makes it very user friendly.

I have an elepaq generator with rated AC output of 2.8KVA, can it effectively charge your 2.5KVA inverter without much stress given that the generator may also bear other loads simultaneously?

And Nigeria is even on the path to greater glories with PMB in the saddle!

It seems APC is loosing.

SonOfEl:
FYI, the hate on igbos came initially from Buhari and his fellow daura bigots.....some of us still remember his subtle methods and reluctance as to not putting capital infrastructural projects in alaigbo when he worked in the petroleum ministry. Am not even talking about the civil war....

Kindly give us examples backed with facts.

That the topography of the North, made PTF roads there last longer does not mean PTF roads were not built in the South at similar or higher cost sef.

Roads are constructed at higher cost in the south compared to the North, and does not last as long as roads in the North.

mbhs139:
You know, I had to first of all check your profile to see if you actually a Nigerian. But I couldn't decipher that from your profile.

You see my friend, in the process of making it look as if you're the King Solomon, the wisest man, of our time, you have done nothing other than showing how stupid and silly you are by calling nearly over 60 million Nigerian youths "a lost generation" simply because they don't share your sentiments and silly opinion. Your type are dangerous in a democracy.

Now, have you wondered why educationist came with different grading systems of A-F, it is because they know that we all can't reason on the same level on the same matter. Now, what this means is that the way and manner you see the President Media Chat is quiet different from the way others may view it, and that, for your information, is the beauty of democracy.

But your silly self failed to recognise that, and come on air to pour your vindictive frustration on millions of Nigerian youths and call us wasted generation. You lack decorum and I'm ready for you to take this bashing into the new year with you. Ode!

Wow, u really took your time to answer that ignoramus.

A lot of them that abuse PMB will be a a worst leader with their reasoning & wanting everyone to submit only to their dictates.

RebelChip:
From the presidential media chat, is it not glaring clear that Buhari hates Igbo people?

From all your comments before and after the election, is it not clear that majority (not all) of the Igbos hate Buhari?

We must be sincere with ourselves, love is reciprocal. A lot of Igbos spill venom on this guy daily on social media, newspaper stands, in office discussions, beer parlour discussions, etc.

Most of the comments on social media and newspaper comment sites; he and his family members gets to see them.

Even way back before the election, the venom was very toxic and is even more toxic after the election.

PMB and his family are humans, there is no way they won't habour some dislike for some talkative and hateful Igbos. Kindly note the use of 'some'.

And I think it is mutual. So no need crying wolf.

cckris:

You can't understand the meaning of Grassroots Democratic Initiatives.

Write your will O, if you're coming to rig election for Amaechi's third term. Change has turned to 419 suffer for all Nigerians.

Amaechi is already on his '3rd term'. stop hating. That Dude is blessed.

His 'first term' was the 8 yrs he spent as Speaker of the Rivers state House of Assembly.

'2nd term' was the 8 yrs. He spent as Executive Governor of Rivers state.

His '3rd term' is presently ongoing as a Honourable Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The future even holds brighter 'terms' for him

haykay2005:
and am sure you won't go back to any of them. The difference is clear. It has happened to me

How does this measure up with the Infinix zero 3. Thinking of getting that device, but this is also appealing to me.

Tinubutoto:
pls remove south south from yo battle field analysis. I make bold to inform u dat any party fronting Ekweremadu as running mate will sweep south south vote by 87%. the only state apc will garner some reasonable vote is Edo North. stop remaining in south west and making analysis for south south. we know those who love us and those who hate us.

Which SS are u? Do tell.

APC is already creating in-roads to the SS. Who can imagine that they can get the votes they had in Bayelsa.

Wait till Ogboru agrees to work with APC in Delta, and you'll see APC having a solid stance in that state.

In Rivers, APC already has a foot print. Same in Akwa ibom and Cross Rivers.

MXrep:
[s]Lol, another baseless claim. just like u rushed to claim igbos will support because of emotion bla bla bla. By rushing to say a collabo of saraki and ekweremadu will be supported because of emotion and other rubbish u said are u not claiming political superiority, after calling u to other, next thing u rushed to allege inferiority complex. these are very popular and stale line by ur ppl. these nonesense lines are what u ppl rush to assert first as a psychological cushion to give u a lead whenever an argument ensue.
As for the discussion, remember APC produced their candidates for senate presidency and speaker through a "valid primary" yet ambitious politicians rebeled and defeated them. Tinubu and Amaechi have no machinery, Tinubu failed woefully in installing his men apart from osibanjo and Oyegun which he achieved when APC serious needed peace to achieve their aim first, Buhari fanatical followership and the feeling of cheating among northerners was responsible for APC's success[/s]

This does not make sense much sense. Try and improve on your writing skills.

By claiming my post insinuates political wizardry, smirks of inferiority complex. Simple. There was no justification for that statement.

Not everyone in APC is a fan of Tinubu for your information. Saraki was only able to go through because of this and coupled with the fact that other people outside the APC seeking to cling to some relevance were available.

There is difference between intra-party politics and general politics.

The only hope Saraki has to get a presidential ticket is to decamp to the PDP or float a new party. He can never get the ticket of the APC.

Now comes the general politics. How appealing to the masses is Saraki??

As I said earlier, Saraki will only appeal to the SE if he is seen to be a rebel to the APC structure and the SW, not necessarily because he is a good candidate. Now taking a SE VP running mate, is adding icing to the cake they will swam on it like bees.

How appealing is Saraki's candidacy to the SW, zero.

The SS can no longer be said to be a voting bloc. Cross River, Akwa Ibom may still follow Akpabio.

In that regards, Saraki's appeal depends on what PDP will do to an equally very ambitious Akpabio. Its not only Ekeremadu that has his eyes on lofty positions.

In Edo, Rivers, Delta and Bayelsa. It all depends on future happenings in these places. But APC has already created a footprint they can solidify in these places and even in the Akwa Ibom sef.

Cross river depends on how the current governor steers the ship. There are insinuations of his disposition to APC. These may be rumours, but politics can be difficult to predict atimes.

The difference between Tinubu and Saraki is that Tinubu identifies good material and supports him/her. Albeit, in a way that is not so palatable.

All this hype about Saraki is dependent on how his case at the CCT turns out. If he is eventually convicted, his political career has automatically hit the rocks.

I maintain that a Saraki/Ekeremadu ticket is assured of definite victory only in the SE.

justmenoni:
Nice analysis u hear but always consider the Muslim/Muslim Christian /Christian ticket in ur analysis and their is no way fashola and dogara will be field unless apc wanna loose out outrightely, 2019 isn't a gonna be a child's play, there would surely be disagreement in the APC camp meaning alot of decamping will still happen...don't trust our politicians cos they are mostly prostitutes jumping up and down...what gives you the assurance that SW apc won't work with pdp hence fielding fashola/ekweremadu just to punish saraki or how are you sure El rufai won't decamp to pdp,what's the assurance you have thar buhari won't decamp back to cpc and then float his own candidate... 2019 isn't gonna be an easy political battle...

Dogara is a christian.

Yanks101:
I think your calculations are emotional and wrong.
The last election did not deliver a full strength south eastern electorates which would definitely change if ekweremadu runs.
Buhari is the only politician in Nigeria that can successfully defeat saraki in an election.Being a master strategist, Saraki already has his allies in the north already. He just need the southern support which he would definitely get from the SE/SS.
The only politician that can stop saraki is buhari. If buhari runs, then saraki would have wait till 2023.
The fact that you mentioned fashola is laughable. He is sellable but not against saraki's political machinery.
Even buhari who is a god-like figure in the North did not win for over 12 years on the back of merit alone.
Btw, calling the SE decision to vote saraki as emotional is hypocritical coming from a South westerner. We all remember the talks of the so-called marginalization under jonathan and how it affected the voting pattern in the SW.

I disagree. Which political machinery does Saraki have?

In the SW, Fashola will conveniently beat Saraki 60/40 percent. Saraki has enough baggage that will neva make him appeal to the SW. You can make your independent findings.

In the north, the popularity of the VP candidate is what will dictate the pattern, that is if Fashola is pushed forward by PMB. PMB admires Fashola a lot and made this clear to Tinubu, when Tinubu was behaving funny about his ministerial candidacy.

But I can assure u if PMB permeates the entire North of the disobedience and insolence of Saraki, it will seriously damage his candidacy in the North. PMB commands respect in the North. Despite his loss in 12yrs that u mentioned, he has always put up a good showing in the North. It's just the SW & NC that joined him this time around that gave him the spread and victory.

GEJ lost the SW due to his ineptitude in leadership.

The SS and SE supported Saraki at the NASS just to have something to cling to, and not about his candidacy.

The fall-out of the 2015 election is that the SE will give maximum support to anyone that does not appeal to the SW notwithstanding the suitability of that individual.

Saraki being a cunny dude, has discovered to his delight that Ekeremadu who came into the picture by chance, may actually be a valuable piece in his chess game. That is, if he dangles Ekeremadu at the emotional South Easterners they will swallow it hook, line and sinker.

There is no machinery in Saraki's doings, its more like a fluke, which he is gleefully following, and can crumble anytime soon.

Btw
His case at the CCT is the leash PMB is using to make him fall in line

...and he is not out yet.

MXrep:
I don't know why yoruba claim political wizardry just because they rode on Buharis fanatical and violent northern deliquents to put a mere comissioner in aso rock. Go and check Dogaras committee appointment and see where his alliance lies, even Gbaja started protesting. Tambuwal also support Saraki's rebel and they will rebel against imposition of el rufai. Kwankwaso has always rushed to Awka to seek alliance with Ngige in the last election http://www.dailytrust.com.ng/daily/news/34507-kwankwaso-delegation-woos-ngige-for-vp and that alliance is still very much intact. He is also likely to rebel against el rufai imposition.
GEJ is a different case, there was a generall feeling that the north has been shortchanged and that made everybody hurriedly accepted the long rejected Buhari, that factor will not be there anymore

Where did u see any claim in my post? You guys better shed this toga of inferiority complex. Instead of commenting on the issue, u are talking about an irrelevant political wizardry that didn't feature in my post.

For your information, everyone has an ambition. Dogara just like Saraki is a very smart man with an ambition. He will never sacrifice his ambition for a Saraki. Moreso, since PMB is more favourably disposed to him than Saraki.

Dogara has already fallen in line and has been pardoned by the APC chiefly due to his differing to PMB. He sincerely admires PMB.

Tambuwal can be convinced to go for a 2nd term instead of presidency during permutation stages. All of them respect PMB a lot. It all depends on PMB.

Kwankwanso has been somehow rendered irrelevant thru the senate APC chieftains pushed him to. He is also a stubborn Aboki just like Saraki, and both of them will not step down for the other. They'll both share their support base.

Nobody talked about imposing El-Rufai. He may emerge thru a valid primaries. And that is if PMB is no longer contesting.

The direction APC will take depend mainly on PMB, supported by his SW Tinubu machinery, Amaechi and the rest of them in the SS.

Okwyjesus:
Me like this two guys minus corruption. Igbos will line up for this ticket if alliaince finally come out of it.

Of course Igbos will definitely line up for the duo. Which is based on emotions and not sound judgement. This pair will make APC jettison Okorocha as Igbos will not vote for him. APC's hope will therefore fall on their support in the North and SW.

Igbos sentimentally supporting this pair does not mean they will achieve victory. The last election has shown us that. Even though, the Igbos and the SS were 90% behind GEJ, he still failed just because he only had the majority support of the two regions.

Buhari won becos he had the majority support of 4 zones.

Frankly speaking, this ticket can only boast of majority support in the SE. SW will never vote for Saraki en-masse.

Either Buhari or an El-Rufai will conveniently clean out the votes of the NW and NE, which has an enviable voting population.

The votes of the NC, SW and SS will be fought for seriously.

While Saraki/Ekeremadu may edge out a slim victory in the SS if Akpabio supports them to the core, this will be put at a manageable level by Oshiomole, Sylva, Udoma, Amaechi, and others who hold forth for APC in the SS. I also have a great feeling that Ogboru of Delta would have decamped to the APC by then.

El-Rufai /Buhari while still retaining Osinbajo as Vice will edge out the votes of the SW.

The NC will be a battle ground zone which will be equally shared.

If per adventure the desperate & treacherous Saraki get hold of the ticket of the PDP and Buhari decides not to contest, this may even brighten the chances of a SW candidate combined with a Northern VP.

APC fielding a Fashola/Dogara may be the end result. This pair will flog Saraki/Ekeremadu hands down.

Fashola is loved in the SW. And if he performs well in his current assignment, which he sure will, based on his brilliance and antecedents. The sky will be his limit.

Dogara is a smart cool chap. Who I think PMB will like to work with. With PMB and El-rufai supporting him and campaigning for him seriously in the North, he will deliver majority votes of the NC, NW and NE.

Dindondin:
Price of domestic gas should pls drop

It has started dropping. I used to fill my 12.5kg with 3k. The last I filled it, it has dropped to 2500. And i'm sure it'll drop further.

kcmichael:
[s]We now have a babel of voices concerning judgments on electoral matters before the courts. The Tribunals and Court of Appeal are singing discordant tunes, allowing political considerations to be the centrepiece of their decisions.
The situation has so degenerated that a relationship with the centre gives one a clear advantage in any electoral matter before the lower courts. Without doubt, the oil-rich states of the Niger Delta are worse hit by this sad development in the nation’s judiciary.
Rivers State has suffered the most in the current wave of judicial indiscretion at the lower bench. Once the matters involve Rivers State, the Electoral Act and the constitution are thrown out of the windows. Cases decided elsewhere based on the law are disregarded when it comes to Rivers State.
The Court of Appeal has decided on all the National Assembly elections in Rivers State and judgements have been entered for the Governorship and State Assembly Elections.
In its judgment on the governorship election, the Court of Appeal claimed that there was no election anywhere in Rivers State. The court claimed that it arrived at its decision on the strength of the use of the card readers and the testimonies of just 56 witnesses.
The judgments of the Court of Appeal on all the elections in Rivers State are flawed in all respects. However, nothing can be done for the victims of the judicial error as regards the National Assembly and State Assembly elections. They will have to make the sacrifice of approaching their constituents again for the revalidation of their earlier mandate.
However, with the unfolding scenario, it is necessary to use the the disposition of the Court of Appeal to actually analyse the situation in the state.
First, the judgments churned out by the Court of Appeal have proved for the very first time, that the elections in Rivers State were held in compliance with the Electoral Act and the constitution. The fact that the Court of Appeal has upheld State Assembly elections from constituencies in all the three senatorial districts of the state show that the APC lost fairly and Governor Wike was duly elected by lawful votes cast. Out of the 32 State Constituencies , the Appeal Court upheld elections in 11 State Constituencies. That represents roughly 35 percent of the State. Yet the same Court said that the governorship election did not hold. This error is regrettable.
In one of the state constituencies upheld by the Appeal Court, that is the Port Harcourt Constituency 1, the Court held that Victoria Nyeche of the APC defeated Jones Ogbonda of the PDP in a legally conducted election. Recall that both the Governorship and State Assembly elections held on same day.
The same Appeal Court held that elections held successfully in Okrika State Constituency, Etche 1 State Constituency, Ahoada West State Constituency, Ogu/Bolo State Constituency , ONELGA 2 State Constituency, Oyigbo, Khana,Phalga 1 ,Abua/Odual and Okrika constituencies.
These were constituencies where the APC claimed violence caused elections not to the hold. Two of these constituencies, ONELGA and Ahoada West were celebrated by the APC as hotbeds of electoral violence and irregularities.
If the Appeal Court has finally admitted that elections held in these constituencies, it goes to prove that no diligent judicial review was done before the decision to annul the Rivers State Governorship Election was taken.
The controversial decisions of the Appeal Court panel on Rivers election have been premised on faulty lines already disregarded by other panels of the Appeal Court and the Supreme Court. First, the Court of Appeal panel for Rivers elections shifted the burden from the petitioners (APC ) to the respondents (PDP ).
An Appeal Court Panel sitting in Makurdi on the appeal filed by Prince Terhemen Tarzoor against the decision upholding the election of Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom held thus:
“The complaint of the Appellant under this issue is that the Tribunal had misplaced the burden of proof on him when it said that he must win his case on the strength of his own case and not on the weakness of the Respondents’ cases or defence, was on the assertion made that the 2nd Respondent did not conduct a primary election at all for the nomination of the 1st Respondent as a candidate to contest the election in question. The Appellant calls and labels the said assertion or allegation, as a negative assertion which he has no duty to prove under the law. However, as demonstrated earlier, an assertion or allegation, can be either negative or positive, but once made by a party in a case, he owes and bears the legal burden of proof, which is fixed and static, to prove same if he expects a court or tribunal to, on its basis, make a declaration of right he claims in the case in his favour. It is a clear misconception, with due respect to counsel, to argue that the Respondents who had denied the assertion made by the petitioner as the vital and crucial point and fulcrum of his case, had the legal burden of proof of such an allegation against them merely on the basis of their denial of the assertion or allegation".
But in the state of all Rivers State elections decided so far, the Appeal Court panel moved the burden from the APC to the PDP.
In the case of the governorship election, the Rivers State APC only called only 56 witnesses. Majority of these witnesses had nothing to do with the governorship election at the polling unit. They were soldiers, mobile policemen and DSS operatives detailed by the Security High Command to lie in court. Even where the exact officers who personally provided security for the elections testified, they were ignored.
Even at that, these few 56 witnesses' testimonies in line with the Supreme Court position on the required proofs to void an election represent just 56 polling units out of the 4442 polling units for the entire state. It is unheard of that courts would rely on gossips or hearsay to decide electoral matters.
According to the Supreme Court, a petitioner can only prove that elections did not hold by calling a voter per polling unit to prove his case. Therefore, a petitioner cannot rely on blanket frivolous allegations like APC have done to get judgment in an electoral dispute.
Deciding the election petition filed by Senator Ucha against the election of former Governor Elechi of Ebonyi State in 2012, the Supreme Court declared:
“The results declared by INEC are prima facie correct and the onus is on the petitioner to prove the contrary. Where a petitioner complains of non-compliance with provisions of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended), he has a duty to prove it polling unit by polling unit, ward by ward and the standard of proof is on the balance of probabilities and not on minimal proof. He must show figures that the adverse party was credited with as a result of the non-compliance, Forms EC8A, election materials not stamped/signed by Presiding Officers. He must establish that non-compliance was substantial, that it affected the election result. ".
Now, there is the issue of the qualification to contest the Rivers State elections in the state first place. Section 85 (1) spells out clearly that a political party must give INEC 21 days notice before holding a valid primary. Failure to do this implies that no primary was held. It was on the premise of the APC’S failure to observe Section 85 (1) that the Appeal Court panel upheld the election of Prince Nnam Obi of representing ONELGA /Ahoada West at the House of Representatives. It was also on the basis of Section 85 (1) that the same Appeal Court dismissed the appeal of Labour Party against the election of Governor Wike.
Only this week, the Court of Appeal nullified the election of Senator Uche Ekwunife of the PDP on the strength that she was not validly nominated.
According to the Appeal Court panel that sat in Enugu :
“Nomination is part and parcel of qualification to stand for an election and since an election can be challenged on the grounds of lack of qualification, it follows that the appropriate forum to challenge it after the election is held is the Election Tribunal".
However, the Appeal Court panel that that considered all the appeals on the Rivers State elections deviated from this norm. Instead, they chose to support the illegality wherein the APC conducted no valid primary in the state. Based on the Electoral Act, APC had no governorship candidate, no National Assembly candidates or State Assembly candidates.
Finally, there is the issue of card reader accreditation. The Appeal Court panel for Rivers elections elevated the card reader accreditation above the Electoral Act and the constitution. The Electoral Act spells out the process of accreditation during an election.
The electoral dispute between Jimi Agbaje (PDP ) and the Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode (APC ) is the most prominent case to cite on the issue of card reader accreditation. The Appeal Court threw out Agbaje's appeal in a considered opinion.
Justice Ogbuinya, the presiding judge of the Appeal Court panel held that: “The paragraph (13b) displays a vitriolic attack on the irregularities germinating from the improper or non-use of the smart card readers in the polling units.
“As it is, it has no life of its own as a ground. It endeavours to introduce the defects in the use of smart card readers. The evolution of the concept of smart card reader is a familiar one. It came to being during the last general election. On this score, it is a nascent procedure injected into our infant and fledgling electoral system to ensure credible and transparent election.
“The extant Electoral Act (2010) which predates the concept (of card reader) is not its parent or progenitor. Since it is not the progeny of the Electoral Act, fronting it as a ground to challenge any election does not have its (the Electoral Act’s) blessing, nay Section 138 (1) of it.
“Put simply, a petitioner cannot project the non-presence or improper use of smart card reader as a ground for questioning an election. It does not qualify as one."
The preceding paragraphs on the Lagos State Governorship Dispute between the PDP and the APC rests the issue on card reader accreditation. It brings to the fore the errors that invalidate the Appeal Court judgments on Rivers elections.
In Delta State, the Appeal Court similarly dismissed the card reader as the basis for the nullification of an election in the appeal filed by Great Ogboru of Labour Party who challenged the election of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa.
Justice Abba-Aji in the lead judgment of the Court of Appeal held that Ogboru merely relied on records of the card reader accreditation without demonstrating the documents by credible evidence.
She held that Ogboru never challenged the evidence of the respondents and even his own witnesses that the card readers had challenges in many part of the states and that apart from the use of card reader, there was also manual accreditation.
While the National and State Assembly elections have come and gone, the judiciary still has the opportunity to remedy its dwindling image in relation to the Rivers State Governorship Election.
The onus to address the errors of the Appeal Court panel that sat on Rivers State elections rests squarely with the Supreme Court. These erroneous judgments of the Appeal Court panel should be confined to the dustbin of history. They have damaged the electoral jurisprudence, but the Supreme Court must come to the rescue. Irrespective of whose political ox is gored, the Supreme Court must rise to the occasion.
From all indications, immediate past Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi has concluded plans to use Rivers State as a collateral to remain relevant in Abuja after squandering over N3trillion in the worst governance tragedy of our time. Amaechi and his political crooks who have been fingered in the worst judicial misrepresentation of all time. The National Judicial Council should act on the petition filed against the Appeal Court panel that failed the Justice system. This is the only that the reforms the Chief Justice of Nigeria promised dissatisfied Nigerians will be effected. Indicted Amaechi is using these illegally acquired funds to compromise the judiciary. The facts are with the EFCC and Nigerians are waiting for the Commission to act.
Simeon Nwakaudu,
Special Assistant to the Rivers State[/s] Governor, Electronic Media.

Crap.

This guy is just writing so that Wike will see that he is working.



The burden of proof at the appeal must indeed fall with Wike/PDP as they are the ones alleging that the Tribunal erred in law by its ruling.

At the Tribunal the burden of proof lies with the APC/Dakuku as they are ones alleging that the election did not substantially comply with the electoral Act.

OP kindly note the use of substantially. You don't have to prove that elections was 100% faulty. If u are able to proof that it was at least 60% faulty, judgement may be to your favour.

kaypling:
You really think these guys argue to make sense? He too knows he's not making sense but he needs to spew his nonsense to meet his daily "Buhari is bad" Nairaland comment quota

I just don't understand this their hate mode. They seems to be going more into a hate frenzy as this govt is making more progress, which should not be the case.

They seriously need help.

Osezua:
It only goes to show and tell you that the very reason they struck was to destabilize GEJs govt. he is out of power now so no more justification for bombing.

You are an unstable individual. You first claimed attacks were happening but unreported.

When u were countered by valid claims u are now going another silly line that they are no longer attacking cos GEJ is out which even contradicts ur earlier stance of Buhari's ineptitude in the terror war.

Are u sure u are not high on something??

NwaNimo1:
Change!

www.nairaland.com/attachments/3214948_christmasribbonpngribbon1gi25daysofchristmas_png970c6d28d5f95e264ca8e3feaad239d8

www.nairaland.com/attachments/3216675_pushingplane_jpeg2c59fa528db6adfa5a81386180a1a052

Aero has been fined for the first pix. The airport authorities claimed they didnt authorize disembarking using the ladder.

The 2nd picture is fake. It has been on the internet for quite a while. This your attempt to nail the PMB administration at all cost will surely backfire.

At worst, he will retain his support base which is still majority if u keep on criticizing him unnecessarily the way you guys are going about it.

LMAO! The election in that Rivers was a total sham.