₦airaland Forum

There was a twist yesterday to the candidacy of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the November 16 Anambra State governorship election.

A Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt ordered the PDP and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise the candidate elected by the Ejike Oguebego-led faction of Anambra State PDP.

Senator Andy Uba won the primary.

But Tony Nwoye won the primary conducted by the Ken Emekeyi-led faction of the party.

Both congresses were held last Saturday in Awka.

PDP Chairman Bamaga Tukur yesterday gave the certificate of return to Nwoye as the party’s flag bearer.

Senator Andy Uba told the court presided over by Justice H.A. Nganjiwa that the primaries that produced him as the candidate followed the laid down procedures. Joined in the suit as defendants are the PDP national leadership and INEC.

The suit was filed before last weekend’s primaries. Oguebego, the state secretary of the PDP, Chief Gilbergt Okoye, and the Legal Adviser, Chucks Okoye sued for themselves and on behalf of the State Executive Committee of the PDP.

Justice Nganjiwa ordered that the result of the primaries conducted by the Ejike Oguebego-led executive, where Uba emerged as the candidate, should be upheld, pending the hearing and determination of the suit by the applicants.

He said the PDP and INEC should accept the results that emerged from the wards and state congress, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice or hearing and determination of the motion to set aside the interim order.

The judge said: “The first and second defendants are to forthwith comply with the order of this honourable court made on the 26th of August, 2013.”

Prior to the ruling, the court gave an exparte order restraining both the INEC and PDP from dealing with the Ken Emeakayi faction, pending the hearing of the main application. The court adjourned the matter till tomorrow.

However, at the meeting of the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) in Abuja, Tukur pronounced Nwoye the winner of the primaries and governorship candidate, following the report of Katsina State Governor Ibrahim Shema, his Gombe counterpart, Ibrahim Dankwambo, and Senate Leader Victor Ndoma-Egba, who monitored the primaries.

Nwoye was yesterday presented with a certificate of return by the national chairman.

The presentation came just as the Uba brothers, Andy and Chris, shunned the summon extended to them by the leadership of the PDP.

Also summoned alongside the Uba brothers were Chief Benji Udeozor and Mrs. Tonia Nwankwo. They were ordered to appear before the party’s leadership at 10am yesterday. None of them honoured the invitation.

They were summoned to explain their roles in the conduct of the August 24 parallel primary election through which Andy Uba emerged as PDP candidate.

Shortly after collecting his certificate, Nwoye told reporters that he remained the authentic candidate of the party.

The Southeast zone also insisted that Nwoye is the party’s candidate.

The zone’s position was made known during its Zonal Executive Committee meeting in Enugu yesterday.

Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, Governors of Ebonyi and Abia states Chief Martin Elechi and Theodore Orji, House of Representatives Deputy Speaker Emeka Ihedioha, Senator Hope Uzodinma and former PDP National Chairman Vincent Ogbulafor, among others, attended.

The Southeast PDP Publicity Secretary, Ali Odefa, who read the communique at the end of the meeting, said the zoning arrangement for all PDP’s National Working Committee given to the Southeast Zone had been retained.

He, however, stated that elections for the positions would take place, adding that people would be advised not to contest for positions that were not zoned to their states.

According to Odefa, the leadership of the party passed a vote of commendation on people from the Southeast zone that held positions in the NWC of the party in the past.

karl max: lemme ask u what is the unemployment rate in lagos state that apc control? Lagos is the highest indebted state in nigeria with 611 million dollars what of other Apc states that their debts has skyrocked since apc took over with nothing to show..... All what u wrote above also prevail in a state that has beeen ran by your apc for 14 years hypocrite

shidof: Ol wat we're clamouring for is an incredible leader. nt fake promises as usual

humpito: These guys are charlatans. I can't imagine Tinubu in power. The whole Nigeria could become his personal Estate.

Maxymilliano: Bla bla bla ... Easier said than done.

The same country where the APC led government in Oyo State came out openly to claim it is not bound to domesticate the current FOI Act

THREE persons have been arrested by the Ogun State Police Command over alleged attempt to kidnap former Miss Nigeria, Feyi Sodipo, in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, on Wednesday.

The suspects, two men and a woman claimed to be security operatives working for the organizers of Miss Nigeria beauty pageant, were said to have brought her from Lagos to Abeokuta, in order to forcefully retrieve a white Hyundai car with registration number LAGOS GGE 354 AJ which she won after the contest.

However, their mission was foiled as Feyi’s mother, Mrs Mary Shodipo, raised the alarm that attracted security operatives attached to the state governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, who came to the rescue of the ex-beauty queen.

The suspects, when asked to identify themselves failed to do so and this brought about suspicion that they were not sent by the organisers of the pageant.

The suspected kidnappers were whisked away by the security details of the governor on the instruction of the command’s Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, to the Ibara Divisional Police Headquarters for interrogation

PROGRESSIVES rolled out their rescue plan for “near-permanent-trauma” Nigeria yesterday.

On top of the All Progressives Congress (APC) 31-page manifesto is its determination to end power outage by generating 40,000MW of electricity between four and eight years.

Apart from liberalising monopoly of power generation and supply, APC pledged efficient tariff.

The party also said it would fight corruption by granting independence to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

It promised to repeal the laws inhibiting the independence of anti-graft agencies.

The manifesto, which was distributed to leaders and elders of APC at a stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja, presided over by its Interim National Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande,

APC also said it would amend the constitution to remove immunity from prosecution for elected officers in criminal cases.

The manifesto reads in part: “APC in Government shall muster the political will to wage strident War Against Corruption; otherwise our post-oil economy will be disastrous.

“It is our considered view that none of our cardinal programmes will succeed if the current level of corruption and looting going on in the land is allowed to continue

“We shall strengthen and make independent the EFCC, ICPC and other anti-graft agencies and repeal the laws which inhibit their independence.

“We shall embark on public sensitisation campaign and civic education against corruption in schools and town halls.

“Shall encourage civil society organisations, advocacy groups and whistle-blowers in the anti-graft vanguard.

“We shall stop the corruption of our electoral process by making Independent National and State Electoral Commissions (INEC) truly independent.

“We shall establish special courts for corruption, after due and thorough review of the Penal Code.

“To actualise this, we shall make the appointment of the chairman and top officials of National and State Electoral Commissions public as enunciated in the Uwais Electoral Reform Report.

“On all election matters, the burden of proof shall rest with the Electoral Commissions.”

The party also said it would enhance politics and governance with reforms through more accountability and transparent process.

The party said: “APC will prevent abuse of executive, legislative and public offices through greater accountability, transparency and strict enforcement of anti-corruption laws whilst strengthening all anti-corruption agencies.

“Amend the constitution to remove immunity from prosecution for elected officers in criminal cases.

“Ensure full implementation of the Freedom of Information Act so that government held data sets can be requested and used by the media and the public at large and then published on regular basis.”

On Federalism, the manifesto added: “APC will initiate action to amend our constitution with a view to devolving powers, duties and responsibilities to states and local governments in order to entrench Federalism and the Federal Spirit.”

On power, APC has pledged to generate and distribute up to 40,000 Megawatts of electricity in four to eight years.

The manifesto said: “Power is the centre-point of the development process. All other indices of development anchor on power and energy. The failure to make power supply efficient has impacted negatively on the economy. It has made the cost of production and business high and has invariably raised the cost of agricultural produce and other finished goods and services thereby thwarting the growth of our economy.

“The crisis in the power sector is one of the major causes of the present collapse of the industrial sector and the inability of small-scale industries to thrive. To kick-start industrial growth in the country, stable and affordable power supply is an absolute necessity.

“The APC Government shall vigorously pursue the expansion of electricity generation and distribution of up to 40,000 megawatts in four to eight years. The party will also work assiduously at making power available from renewable energy sources, such as coal, solar, hydro, wind and biomass for domestic and industrial use, wherever these prove viable.

As a matter of pressing priority and urgency, tackle the paralysing lapses with electric power generation, distribution and supply.

Resolve all stalemate around the reform of the power sector and develop a transparently agreed power generation and distribution milestones with clear timelines and targets.

Liberalise the monopoly of the Federal Government in power generation and supply. We shall devolve much of power and energy to the private sector.

The gas and thermal stations will particularly be encouraged to increase their supply capacities.

Alternative power sources, including hydro, solar, coal and wind energy will be explored and developed.

Regular Turn Around Maintenance (TAM) of existing facilities will be done to ensure steady and uninterrupted utility supply.

An aggressive and efficient tariff/ revenue recovery system will be pursued. All avenues of waste, corruption and abuse will be checked.

Rural electrification will continue to be encouraged.

Improve management efficiency of the nation’s distribution system, improve commitment to consumer service and sensitise a national energy conservation and maintenance culture on electricity supply.

Regarding national security and defence, APC said it would decentralise the police and expand its local content to include community policing.

The manifesto said: “APC will urgently address capacity building of law enforcement agents in terms of quantity and quality as this is critical in safeguarding the sanctity of lives and property.

“Establish a well-trained, adequately funded, equipped and goals driven Serious Crime Squad to combat terrorism, kidnapping, armed robbery, militancy, ethno-religious and communal clashes nationwide.

“Begin widespread consultations to amend the constitution to decentralise the police command and expand local content by including community policing.”

“Push for more support in the security and economic stability of the sub-region (ECOWAS) and AU as a whole and maintain a strong, close and frank relationship with the international community.

“Take renewed measures to secure our borders, which are currently too porous for effective control of…

“Take renewed measures to secure our borders which are currently too porous for effective control of unwarranted movement.

“Establish a National Coast Guard to protect our coastal waters.”

Concerning the economy, APC in its manifesto, said it would make “Nigerian economy one of the fastest growing emerging economies in the world achieving a real GDP growth averaging 10 per cent annually.

“Embark on vocational training, entrepreneurial and skill acquisition scheme for graduates along with the creation of small Business Loan Guarantee Scheme to create at least 1million new jobs every year, for the foreseeable future.

“Create additional middle-class of at least 1 million new home owners in our first year in government and 1 million annually thereafter, by enacting a national mortgage system that will lend at single digit interest rates for purchase of owner occupier houses.”

Msoy: Thank God. First to comment. However, it does not reduce PMS price, or does it?

Determined to resolve the crisis of confidence between President Goodluck Jonathan and Governor Rotimi Amaechi, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors have decided to raise a three-man reconciliation committee.

The committee, which will be under the watch of ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, may be constituted within the PDP Governors Forum, it was learnt yesterday.

But the governors have asked President Jonathan to checkmate the Minister of State for Education, Mr. Nyesom Wike, and demanded a probe of his activities.

The decisions of the governors were communicated to the President last Friday by the Chairman of the Forum, Obong Godswill Akpabio.

According to a governor, who pleaded not to be named, PDP governors are eager to reconcile the President and Amaechi as part of steps to put the party in good stead for 2015.

The source said: “Actually, there was a meeting of PDP governors as a fall-out of a meeting with ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo. Mr. President called a meeting with Akpabio and said we should harmonise the outcome of the meetings with Obasanjo.

“We summoned the meeting of PDP governors to consider reconciliation and how to move forward.

“Some of the governors mentioned the resolution of the crisis in Rivers as central to the reunification of the party and insisted that a reconciliation committee be set up.

“We decided to raise another three-man committee to reconcile Mr. President and the Rivers State governor. We agreed that the new committee should not be part of Governor Henry Seriake Dickson’s Reconciliation Committee.

“We also reached a consensus that National Chairman Bamanga Tukur should make no input in the constitution of the panel. But we said the committee should be under the watch of ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo.”

Asked when the reconciliation committee will take off, the governor said: “I think by Friday, August 23rd, we should be able to constitute it. It may be an intra-PDP Governors Forum committee.”

The source also highlighted other issues tabled before the President. They include complaints against Wike, why Tukur should remain in office as the National Chairman and 2015 polls.

The source added: “Some of the governors said Minister of Education, Nyesom Wike should be checkmated and warned by the President because he is taking the Rivers crisis too far against the Chief Security Officer of the state, who is Amaechi.”

They said the President should ask relevant agencies to revisit how some governors were stoned during a solidarity visit to Rivers State by Wike’s supporters.

Adamawa State Governors Murtala Nyako was said to have come up with some allegations against Wike and asked that the President be notified of the minister’s activities.

On the fate of Tukur, the source said although some governors raised issues against the national chairman, most did not want him removed.

The source said: “Some of the governors said the alleged high-handedness of Tukur should be curtailed. They complained of not being carried along on party matters.

“In spite of the fact that at the tail end of the meeting, emotions rose on Tukur’s leadership style, majority of the governors said he should not be removed.”

The source also said the governors agreed that “2015 poll is around the corner and Rivers State is vital to PDP.

“They said PDP should not lose 2.3million votes from Rivers to the ongoing crisis.”

Another governor confirmed that early last Friday, Akpabio met with Mr. President on the decisions of the governors.

The source added: “Akpabio tabled all the decisions of the PDP governors to the President, who promised to look into all the issues, including observations on Wike.

“Akpabio, who is presently in the United States, is expected to meet with the President again on August 20.”

But it was learnt that Akpabio had also been reaching out to Amaechi and Wike.

The source said: “In the last three weeks, Akpabio has spoken four times with Amaechi. He is trying to see how reconciliation can be effected between the President and the governor.

“Akpabio has tried to call Wike to order to restore peace to Rivers State.”

ayusco85: @OP pls get A̶̲̥̅ life, or better still get A̶̲̥̅ job. 2015 is two yrs away. This is uncalled for.
*effects of ASUU strike*