₦airaland Forum

The Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC) of the All Progressives Congress, Lagos State, yesterday decided that the state governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, and two other governorship aspirants would face the primary contest scheduled to hold on Saturday, September 29.

With the decision of the GAC, the party denied Ambode the right of first refusal despite the intervention of President Muhammadu Buhari, the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; former Ogun State Governor, Chief Olusegun Osoba; and Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, among others.

Notwithstanding the decision, THISDAY sources said that Ambode was still locked in a meeting with the party’s national leader, Senator Bola Tinubu, and former national chairman, Chief Bisi Akande, in Lagos last night.
The spokesman of the advisory council, Dr. Abayomi Finnih, disclosed this during a press briefing at the secretariat of Lagos APC, Acme Road yesterday.

He addressed the journalists alongside an APC chieftain, Prof. Babatunde Samuel.
Ambode’s political future has been uncertain after the Managing Director of Lagos State Development and Property Corporation (LSDPC), Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and former Commissioner for Works & Infrastructure, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, declared intention to challenge Ambode.

Consequently, the Mandate Movement, a powerful political machine of the National Leader of All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Bola Tinubu, endorsed Sanwo-Olu for the governorship contest, thus heating up the state’s political climate ahead of the primary election slated for September 29.

Ambode’s travail had attracted the intervention of the presidency, Osoba, Ajimobi, the Progressives Governors Forum (PGF) and the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF), pleading for reprieve for the governor.
With the presidential intervention, the APC national leader decided to consult the GAC, the state’s highest advisory political organ comprising 22 APC chieftains across the three senatorial districts.

The members of the GAC include Chairman of Lagos APC, Prince Babatunde Balogun, his immediate predecessor, Chief Oladele Ajomale, Otunba Bushirat Alebiosu, Dr. Olorunfemi Bashorun, Senator Anthony Adefuye, Prof. Babatunde Samuel, Chief Adeyemi Ikuforiji, Alhaji Tajudeen Olusi, Cardinal James Odumbaku, Chief Lanre Rasak, Dr. Yomi Finnih, among others.

At the session with journalists yesterday, Finnih noted that the GAC under the chairmanship of the APC leader adopted direct method to choose its governorship candidate out of the three main contestants rather than giving Ambode the right of first refusal like all his predecessors.
Finnih also noted that the same method would be used to select the party’s candidates for the three senatorial seats, 24 House of Representatives slots and 40 positions in the state House of Assembly in the state.

By implication, Finnih explained that Lagos APC “will conduct primary elections for all elective positions in the state. All aspirants seeking governorship, federal and state legislative elections will face primary contest on the scheduled dates.”

Contrary to some reports, however, he noted that the party had put all necessary machinery in place “to ensure a peaceful, free and fair primary contest for all categories of aspirants. There will be level-playing ground for all the aspirants.
“The primary elections will be conducted without fear or favour to any particular aspirant. It is not the affairs of Tinubu. Most reports on the social media are misleading and untrue. We have put structures in place to ensure credible process.”

He acknowledged that the GAC members held a meeting on Saturday during which they deliberated on how to conduct the primary elections peacefully.
At the meeting, Finnih disclosed that it was agreed that direct method was adopted “to adopt primary elections to choose party candidates for the 2019 elections. We have no preferred candidates among the governorship aspirants.

“It is not about Tinubu for any reason. It is our collective decision. We resolved to provide a level-playing ground for all aspirants without fear or favour. The adoption of direct primary method is to further democratise the electoral process in the state.

“We adopted the direct method in order to do away with the usual belief of anointed candidate. We will also ensure the process is credible and fair. Every aspirant should go to the field and test their popularity. The people will decide.”
Before the decision of the GAC to adopt direct primary method, Finnih explained that a stakeholders’ meeting had been held at the party secretariat “to adopt the method. The stakeholders agreed to it without any dissenting views.”

Also in a statement yesterday, a frontline socio-cultural organisation, Yoruba Ronu Leadership Forum expressed concern about the gang-up by some political leaders, including Tinubu over Ambode’s re-election, noting that the governor should be given the privilege of seeking re-election unopposed.
The statement, which the group’s Secretary-General, Mr. Akin Malaolu, issued yesterday, said it was important “to educate the political leaders in Lagos State that the victory of APC and Ambode at the polls in 2015 elections were due to many factors.”

In 2015, the statement explained that Yoruba Ronu worked underground “to ensure Ambode’s victory due to the altercations between the Oba of Lagos and the Igbo community in Lagos over the lagoon saga that turned political. We are prepared to work for him regardless of his minor shortcomings.”
It warned that the threats “to deny Ambode his deserved second term and fair performance so far may snowball into massive protest votes if care is not taken. The hypocrisy of the political leaders of Lagos State has gone too far.

“They have veered off commonsense road into political carelessness in future polls that will have consequences on the presidential as well as other elections in the state if APC should go into 2019 elections without quick resolutions to unnecessary distractions it has embarked upon.

“We are putting the APC leaders in Lagos, including its so-called Mandate Movement and Justice Forum on notice that the general people and voters in Lagos and the South-west are not in companionship with your lots over attempts at denying Ambode his second term in office.”
The statement, thus, urged all the party leaders in the state “to sheath their swords for better political negotiations to reduce the political tension that has enveloped the people of Lagos State and the South-west in general.”

It, however, noted that Ambode “is a far better political leader than the nonentity APC leadership foisted on the people of Osun State for eight years and who had made mess of the golden opportunities democracy offers to the people which are happiness and prosperity and not vanity projects.
“We have no intention of addressing anyone on this subject again as our position is final and cannot be changed to another alternative. A stitch in time saves nine,” the statement said.

400billionman:
You mean he no get sense

Presidential aspirants on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday said they have resolved to support whoever emerges as the party’s standard bearer ahead of the 2019 elections.

But barely a week to the national convention of the PDP where the party is expected to elect its presidential standard bearer, members of the party are still divided over the venue of the convention scheduled to take place in Port Harcourt, the River State capital.

While commending the screening process, the aspirants insisted that it was not about selfish interest, but about the party and how to rescue the country from imminent collapse.

The screening of the aspirants, which was scheduled to take place at the party’s secretariat at Wadata Plaza in Abuja, was later moved to the party’s presidential campaign office at Legacy House, Maitama.

The Senate president was the first aspirant to be screened in the exercise that started at 11a.m.

Speaking through his media aide, Mr. Yusuf Olaniyonu, Saraki passed a vote-of-confidence on the presidential screening committee of the party, saying that the level of transparency showed that the party was ready for free,and credibleprocess.

He stressed that the atmosphere at the screening was that of fairness and friendliness both from the aspirants and the party.

According to him, “this has given me the belief that PDP is ready for free, fair and credible process. The unity that existed while waiting for the screening showed that they will work together with whoever emerges.”

The Senate president said he was impressed that there was no bitterness in the ongoing campaign by the presidential aspirants.

Also, former Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki (SAN), said the aspirants must work together, and synergise to ensure that PDP saves Nigeria from imminent collapse.

He said, “Only one person can be president at a given time and whosoever gets it, by the special grace of God we have resolved to support that person.

“It is not about us, it is not about selfish interest, it is about our party and about this country. It is only PDP that can save this country. We are not going to be distracted, the focus that all of us have and that focus is that we should ensure that PDP gets back into office on May 29, 2019.”

On his part, former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar said the screening went well.

Reacting to the Osun election, he said the PDP won in the state, adding, “all these grammar that INEC is speaking they are wasting their time. I will be there tomorrow.”

Meanwhile, the Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal, also noted that the screening went smoothly and there were no issues.

He said what happened in Osun State was unacceptable, while urging INEC to declare the party’s candidate as the winner.

He said, “It has happened before and INEC declared the winner of those elections, it is only incumbent on INEC to come out clearly and give the mandate to the candidate of our party, Senator Ademola Adeleke.”

Also the former governor of Sokoto State, Attairu Bafarawa, said the opposition party was not happy about the decision of the electoral body.

“As far as we are concerned, we are not happy with the way and manner the INEC took decision. I don’t know the dimension that INEC decided to go for rerun election, but as a layman we believe that we are the winner.”

On the issue of consensus, Bafarawa said when the time comes they would say something about it.

On his part, former Governor of Plateau State, Jonah Jang, said the process was transparent and credible.

“The process is beautiful. Absolutely I stand a chance to win the ticket. I am optimistic because I believe that God is going to give it to me,” he said.

While fielding questions from journalists after his screening, former Senate President, David Mark, said the screening was rigorous, tough, but also very interesting.

On election, he said; “Did you listen to me yesterday, I said INEC should declare PDP the winner and let us move on. The APC must learn to accept the result that emanated from the wishes of the people. APC must not send the wrong signal that they cannot take defeat.”

However, the presidential screening appeal panel has been scheduled to sit today at the presidential campaign office of the party, Legacy House, Maitiama, Abuja, to resolve whatever issues or grievances that may arise from the screening.

Those that have been screened included: Saraki, Datti-Baba Ahmed, Jang, Atiku, Aminu Tambuwal, Turaki, Ahmed Makarfi, Bafarawa, Mark and Sule Lamido.

Other aspirants that could not make it yesterday would be screened today by the committee.

The screening committee is chaired by former Vice President, Namadi Sambo, Chief Tom Ikimi, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo , Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, Hajiya MariamGroma,Amb.KemaChikwe, Dr. Haliru Bello, Chief Ebenezer Babatope as members, while the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Udom Emmanuel served as the Secretary.

Meanwhile, barely a week to the national convention of the PDP where the party is expected to elect its presidential standard bearer, members of the party are still divided over the venue of the convention scheduled to take place in Port Harcourt, the River State capital.

There had been speculations that some presidential aspirants had kicked against the choice of Port Harcourt, saying that the venue was chosen to give undue advantage to some aspirants.
While speaking at the inauguration of the national convention committee of the party however, the Deputy National Chairman South, Yemi Akinwonmi, said that on the issue of venue, the party set up a committee headed by Alhaji Ibrahim Kazaure that went round the South-south and South-east zones before coming out with the choice of Port Harcourt.

According to him, “The National Working Committee (NWC) has consulted widely with the PDP Governors’ Forum, we have consulted widely with the Board of Trustees (BoT), we have consulted widely with caucus of the party and today it has been jointly accepted that we will converge in Port Harcourt, in no distance time for the national convention.”

However, the PDP BoT Chairman, Senator Walid Jibril, wasted no time in letting the cat out of the bag, saying the issue of venue was still a contentious one.

He stated, “Even though the Deputy Chairman said the issue of venue have been concluded, I want to say that the issue of venue is still on and is not concluded, because there are many suggestions on the issue of venue.

“We look at all suggestions, I assure you that the issue of venue will be resolved. But for now we are working around the clock to ensure that we have a very suitable venue accepted by everybody. I want to say that everyone of us should come together and ensure that we have a venue suitable to all of us.”

The Governor of Ebonyi State, Dave Umahi, said that the working committee and the BoT should settle the issue of venue.

Also, the convention committee chairman and the governor of Delta State, Ifeanyi Okowa, said that the committee is aware that if the party gets the convention right and that if the process is credible, free and fair, they will have the buy in of all its presidential aspirants, thereby going into the 2019 elections with a united family.

He stated, “I also want to believe that if there are any internal issues, it will be resolved within today. I am very confident of that, because all of us believe that the only way forward is for the entirety of the party to stay united and focused.

“And as such, as members of the PDP, we cannot afford to disagree on any issues. The thing that is needed is for a free and fair primary to be conducted for all our aspirants. And we are very definite that we will get it right. No matter where we take it to, we will do what is right. And I believe that at the end of the day, nobody will have any cause to complain,” Okowa assured.

Other members of the 85-member nationalconventioncommitteeinclude: the Vice Chairman of the committee and Taraba State Governor, Darius Ishiaku, Secretary of the Committee, Governor of Ebonyi State Mr. Dave Umahi, while the some of the members are former Niger state governor, Babangida Aliyu, Senator Ben Bruce, former governor of Ebonyi State, Gabriel Susan, among others.

Nbote:
Wen his goal was given best goal by UEFA despite Bale scoring an even beta one U ppl didnt rememba any conspiracy. Ronaldo's goal didn't even deserve to win UEFA's best goal, Bale's was beta. Go and watch dat goal vs Everton again and den come back and open ur mouth. I'm sure U fanboys don't even watch football except Ronaldo is involved.... Ronaldo actually won d best goal as compensation for losing d best player.. It's obvious he won it out of pity

Ahead of the All Progressives Congress (APC) primaries, the National Chairman of the party, Adams Oshiomhole, says the party will not field candidates he described as opportunists seeking the platform of the party to achieve selfish interests.

Referring to the defection of Senate President Bukola Saraki and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Oshiomhole said the party has learnt from the mistake of the past where “bread and butter” politicians were given tickets of the party.

According to a statement by his chief press secretary, Simon Ebegbulem, the chairman stated this while addressing members of the screening committee of the party.

He also lamented that his National Working Committee (NWC) since assuming office has been tackling issues arising from the last congresses of the party.

“In many of the states, we had challenges arising from the way congresses were conducted. Many of them were quite fraudulent, that has been the challenge we have been trying to resolve since we came. Screening of aspirants is not a formality, that is why we tried to search for men and women of integrity who cannot be compromised.

“We do not want to field opportunists who are simply seeking a political vehicle for some selfish purposes. What has happened in recent past is enough for us to begin to look at the character of those who are seeking office on the APC platform.”

He said the party seeks people who have the intellectual capacity to articulate issues on the basis for which laws and bills are considered and those who have capacity to carry out oversight functions to ensure that Nigerians get value for money. Thus, screening of candidates, he said, should not be a formality.

“If before now we have taken for granted the powers of the National Assembly, how those powers can be used for national goals and how it can also be misused to undermine national progress, the current situation we are facing here, where two principal officers have chosen to put their personal interest over and above the national interest, refusing to consider budget meant for physical infrastructure, budget meant to re-order the way our budget is executed, to move money away from consumption which recurrent expenditure represents to capital projects which will benefit our people.

“And even refusing to approve money meant for the body charged with the responsibility of conducting elections in 2019. For us as a party, we have chosen to learn from the positive lessons from this development so that we do not repeat those mistakes by selecting people who as far as human capacity is we can assess and predict that, if elected, they will remain faithful not only to our party but more importantly to the Nigerian nation.

“If we have disagreement, it will not be about juicy appointments, it will be about appropriate policies, it will be about how governance is impacting positively on the lives of Nigerians. It will not be about who is getting what, politics of sharing.”

Mr Oshiomhole, however, said he is proud of the present senators of the party and it will be ‘ungodly”not to reward them.

“As we speak, I am proud that we have 57 senators who have refused to be induced or misled or otherwise manipulated into moving to other parties or reward for juicy positions. They have decided to remain in our party even with all the intimidation they have suffered.”

Former President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday threw his weight behind the presidential ambition of David Mark, saying the former senate president will strengthen the bond of unity in Nigeria.

The former president, who hosted the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential aspirant in his Yenogoa residence, said Nigeria was in dire need of unity.

Mr Jonathan said that it would take a man with strength of character and clear conscience like Mr Mark to rebuild and foster unity in Nigeria in 2019.

“We are only existing superficially and this is very dangerous,” he warned.

He said that beyond dwindling economy and worsening insecurity, the major problem the next president would face was the challenge of uniting the country and giving every section a sense of belonging.

Mr Jonathan noted that every right thinking Nigerian should crave for peace and unity as “we continue to stay together”.

“Staying together is what everyone desires as the global community respects and values us because of our size and population.

“As president of Nigeria, I worked harmoniously with Mark as President of the Senate. He demonstrated patriotism and loyalty to his fatherland.

“His colleagues admitted that he is a detribalised leader. He is the kind of man the nation needs now,” Mr Jonathan said.

The former president expressed optimism that the PDP would get it right in 2019 elections.

In his remarks, Mr Mark, said that Nigerians now knew the difference between the former and present administrations.

He said that he possessed the experience, knowledge and skill to bring the nation out of the social and economic malaise within two years if elected.

Earlier, Director General of David Mark Campaign organization, Zainab Kure, paid glowing tribute to Jonathan for his uncommon leadership quality and sacrifices he made to keep the nation united.

Mrs Kure noted that Nigerians would forever be grateful to the ex-president for his statesmanship.

Lalasticlala, Mynd44

danelson007:
did u notice anything in the pictures, the only people that are raising their hands are the people they came with, I mean the people they planted to make it look they are happy. an igbo woman knows that 10k is too petty to be happy about. Oga go and share this money in the north or South West. we don't need it here.

An All Progressives Congress party agent, who preferred to be anonymous confided in our correspondent that almost all the parties were involved in vote-buying in Ede.

He told our correspondent that the African Democratic Party in a door-to-door ‘evangelism’ distributed between N1,000 and N2,000 last night while the Peoples Democratic Party and the All Progressives Congress gave out their cash this morning.

Likewise, the ADP, the PDP and the APC have been giving out money to voters in Asunmo ward, Unit 1, Talafia area, Ede.

He said, “As a party agent, I have over N100,000 with me and I will give it out to those that vote for the APC.”

Firefire:
You mean this post...?



I am aligned with it, what about you?

Vote-buyers now doing electronic transfers –INEC chair

The INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, on Friday said the commission had recently observed increasing voters’ inducement through electronic transfers to influence their choice of voters on the day of the election.

According to a release by INEC on Friday, Yakubu led a team of national commissioners to the EFCC on Thursday to look at further steps that could be taken to address the vote-buying and selling menace.

Yakubu said, “Of immediate concern is the election we are holding on Saturday in Osun State and it is going to be the last major election before the 2019 general elections. We have taken steps as a commission, but we need the support of the EFCC in this respect. Vote-buying and selling is giving our democracy and elections a bad reputation. Also, institutions like the EFCC having the powers to arrest, investigate and prosecute can help to stem this ugly tide.

“We have also recently observed increasing inducement through electronic transfers, whereby money is transferred into the accounts of some voters in order to influence their decisions on Election Day. We believe that you have both the law and the capacity on your side to help us in this respect.

“We implore the EFCC to also monitor campaign finances of political parties and their candidates. We don’t want the moneybags to determine our democracy. We want the votes of the people to determine who wins in our elections.”

EFCC begins monitoring of money transfers, banks, vote-buyers

Meanwhile, the EFCC has said it will monitor money transfers, collaborate with banks, arrest and prosecute vote-buyers during the Osun State governorship election on Saturday (today).

The EFCC Acting Chairman, Ibrahim Magu, who stated this in Abuja at a strategic meeting with said the anti-graft agency would use the Osun election as “a test case.” Magu threatened that unrepentant vote buyers and their potential customers would be arrested and prosecuted if they ply their trade in the Osun election.

Magu said, “There is indeed a lot of concern about vote-buying and selling. There is also a lot of concern about the possibility of moneybags trying to derail our democracy and democratic process. We have the mandate to monitor money transfers and we are collaborating with the banks.

“We have the mandate to arrest, investigate and prosecute and we are going to use the Osun governorship election as a test case. We will work with you. We will do our best and we appeal to Nigerians to support the EFCC in the fight against corruption. One way to fight corruption is to stop vote-buying and stop voter inducement in elections so that democracy can survive.”

Candidates, observers seek clampdown on vote buyers as politicians change tactics

Some candidates contesting the governorship election have called on security agents to stop politicians from paying the electorate for votes in order to stop the trend of vote-buying in the country.

Some of the candidates spoke in separate interviews with one of our correspondents ahead of the poll which is being monitored by local and election observers.

The governorship candidate of the Providence People’s Congress, Prof. Ife Adewumi, charged security agents to ensure a clampdown on vote buyers to serve as deterrent to others.

Adewumi, who is a former Chairman, Academic Staff Union of Universities at the Obafemi Awolowo University, said, “We in Providence Peoples’ Congress know that the parties that buy votes have no genuine interest in service to the people whose wealth are bought with peanuts.

“This is made possible by the pervading poverty in which Nigerians have found themselves from years of misrule by both past military and civilian administrations.

“The law enforcement and polling agents should ensure that mobile phone of each voter is left with the polling agents and collected back after the voter has exercised his or her right to chose who will rule them. They must stop politicians from distributing money to voters and this is very important.”

“The PPC is a people-focused party that has well thought-out programmes for every citizen and resident in Nigeria. To us in the PPC, we bring democratic welfarism as panacea to the failed Nigerian state.”

Also, the governorship candidate of the Socialist Party of Nigeria, Mr. Alfred Adegoke, has said that something must be done to stop corrupt politicians from buying their ways into power.

Adegoke, a human rights activist, in an interview with one of our correspondents on Friday said, “Vote-buying must be stopped but I am not sure that the police and others would do it. Government paid the policemen outrageous amount of money as election duty allowance and I believe that is a way to make them compromise, but we will expose them.”

Also, some election monitoring groups also raised the fear that the process might be compromised by some desperate politicians who were ready to buy votes to emerge victorious.

The Head of Mission, Pan African Women Projects, Dr. Eno Udensi and the Director-General, Centre for Credible Leadership and Citizens Awareness, Dr. Gabriel Nwambu, said at a pre-election press conference on Friday that vote-buying had become cancerous and could destroy the nation’s democracy if it was not stopped by all means.

Meanwhile, although there are 48 governorship candidates from 48 political parties contesting in today’s election, five of them are said to be major contenders.

These are candidates of the All Progressives Congress, Mr. Adegboyega Oyetola; Peoples Democratic Party, Senator Ademola Adeleke; Social Democratic Party, Senator Iyiola Omisore; Action Democratic Party, Mr. Moshood Adeoti; and African Democratic Congress, Mr. Fatai Akinbade, who is a former Secretary to the State Government during the administration of former governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola.

As 48 governorship candidates from 48 political parties jostle for 1,246,915 votes in the Osun State governorship election holding on Saturday (today), some of the contestants and their political associates have devised new means and tactics to induce voters ahead of the poll.

Investigation by Saturday PUNCH revealed that the representatives of at least one of the contestants were using the WhatsApp social media platform to woo Permanent Voter Card holders, who are residents of Osun State, to sell their votes.

This was despite attempts by the Independent National Electoral Commission to curb vote-buying and selling especially in the Osun election.

Checks by our correspondents showed that the associates of the contestants cleverly hid their identities.

To track the identities of the buyers and the politicians they were working for, one of our correspondents connected to an online link that in turn linked him with a WhatsApp number 08120569530, where he was asked a series of questions to ascertain if he actually had a permanent voter card and if he was an Osun State indigene.

The administrator later promised that N10,000 would be deposited into our correspondent’s account number at 6am on Election Day. The correspondent was asked to send his account detail, age, town, ward and unit to claim the amount.

The administrator said, “You’ll receive bank alert 6am on the Election Day. Don’t forget to pass this good news to all your friends and family. Make sure you add us to you(r) phone book and don’t forget to send this to all your friends and family living in around Osun State. Expect our call anytime from now.”

It was difficult to ascertain the party or governorship candidate that initiated the payment process. When our correspondent tried to call the number, using Truecaller, a mobile app that finds contact details globally, to trace the owner, it did not respond.

Almost immediately, the administrator sent a message that our correspondent would be stopped from enjoying the N10,000 vote-buying price. “Please, no WhatsApp call and if you keep calling, we’ll block you,” the administrator wrote.

Meanwhile, one of the contestants was said to have started distributing money to the ward leaders who would identify names of their party members on the voter registers and pay them ahead of the poll.

A source close to one of the politicians told one of our correspondents on Friday that money had been moved to where the distribution would be done in order to pay for the votes.

He said, “There is nothing they can do to stop vote-buying especially in this election, because politicians are desperate to outdo one another in their bid to buy votes.

“They have started bringing money out but this time round, because of the noise over it, they will be more discreet in sharing the money. Money has been given to the leader of the party in our area but they are yet to tell us how much.”

Saturday PUNCH gathered that the sponsor of a particular candidate compelled some party leaders to swear an oath that they would spend the money he wanted to give them to induce voters and not pocket them.

Some of the leaders were said to have agreed while a few of them were said to have rejected the money because they could not swear this oath of allegiance.

The same candidate was said to have distributed forms to prospective voters, asking them to fill in their accounts details to enable them to be credited with the sum of N10,000. The amount is said to be meant for any voter with a PVC.

APC, PDP trade blames over allegations of vote-buying

But the APC and the PDP trade blames over allegations of vote-buying on Friday, accusing each other of trying to sway voters by offering electorate money for their votes.

The PDP accused the ruling party of planning to buy votes with billions of naira in order to manipulate the people to vote for the ruling party’s candidate, Gboyega Oyetola.

The opposition party denied that its candidate in the election, Ademola Adeleke, was collecting bank details of the electorate through a WhatsApp number in order to buy their votes.

He said the allegation was a rumour and that Adeleke would play by the rules of the election.

The PDP Chairman in Osun State, Mr. Soji Adagunodo, who said this on Friday at a press conference at the party secretariat, noted that the party had detected several means through which the APC wanted to rig the election.

Adagunodo said, “We wish to alert the general public to the planned monetisation of the Osun State governorship election, especially the voting process, by the APC. Towards this ignoble end, several helicopters loaded with cash were flown into the Government House between the hours of 4pm and 8pm on Thursday.

“The money, which we were reliably informed about run into billions of naira, was contributed by state governors elected on the platform of the APC to enable the party to induce voters at various polling units.

“In addition, each of the 67 local government council development areas in Osun State was made to cough up N12.5m for the same purpose. The plan of the APC, as gathered from very credible sources, was to buy votes with a sum ranging from N5,000 to N10,000 each at the polling units.

“It is quite unfortunate that a government which did not find it compelling to pay salaries and allowances of its workforce for 34 months could resort to attempting to buy the conscience of voters in this election.

But, when contacted, a chieftain of the APC in Osun State, Mr. Sola Fasure, who is also the media aide to Governor Rauf Aregbesola, asked the PDP to provide evidence of its allegations.

In defence of the ruling party, Fasure said the opposition party had started inducing voters ahead of the election, adding that the PDP raised the allegation as a smokescreen to divert attention from the alleged electoral fraud the party had perfected.

He said, “The PDP and its candidate have been sending messages out to obtain account numbers of the people whose vote they want to buy. They are using this allegation to cover their own heinous and sinister practice of trying to induce voters.

“They are making allegations without evidence but we have evidence of them trying to induce voters. They are the ones actually sending messages and trying to induce these voters with cash. They have been obtaining bank accounts and it is all over the state. Everybody knows but they are using the press conference as a means to divert attention from them so that they can perpetrate that criminal activity of subverting the election and inducing voters.

“We are not giving out money to anybody; anyone who claims to have collected money from us should come out to the public and say it. We have the strategy of winning elections by going out to canvass for votes and they have the strategy of taking shortcut by paying to induce voters and to circumvent the electoral process. They have started inducing voters already but they will fail woefully.”

The crisis over who becomes the next governor of Lagos State could drive a wedge between the presidency and some state governors on the one hand and National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his loyalists on the other.

Tinubu is believed to have withdrawn support for Ambode’s re-election in favour of a former Commissioner of Commerce and Industry, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

The party leader however has been under intense pressure to have a change of heart.

The governors were said to have urged the presidency to prevail on Tinubu not to ridicule Ambode, whom they fondly refer to as ‘Governor General’.

A cabal in Aso Rock, consisting mainly of northern elements, is also backing the same agenda.

On Tuesday, during a rally for Gboyega Oyetola (APC’s Osun State governorship aspirant in Saturday’s election), Buhari, some governors and party leaders pleaded with Tinubu and his close ally, Governor Rauf Aregbesola, to give Ambode a second chance.

Ambode meanwhile held talks with Buhari behind closed doors in Abuja yesterday.

The Guardian learnt that the visit to the Presidential Villa might not be unconnected with the Governors Advisory Council (GAC) meeting held in Lagos on Wednesday.

Tinubu, in Osun, was said to have called for the meeting to seek the views of Lagos stakeholders on Ambode’s fate.

The incumbent reportedly sought to update the president on the latest developments, particularly the outcome of the GAC meeting.

APC governors were in Abuja Wednesday night and had urged the president to intervene.

Sources within the party said Buhari is worried that the trouble in Lagos may affect his second term ambition, if the rift between both men is not resolved.

They noted that the president is concerned that the southwest region is key to his re-election, following his dwindling popularity in the southeast and south south, and the gale of defections to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the north.

They said the president is relying on the southwest.

And if Lagos is allowed to drown in crisis, the ripples may affect other states in the region.

Buhari hinged his argument on the premise that, since Ambode does not stand accused of lacklustre performance, his sins should be forgiven, they said.

The sources added that Buhari could invite all parties in the Lagos crisis including the powerful Mandate Group and some southwest APC leaders to Abuja next week, with a view to resolving the matter.

A member of the party in Lagos however insisted there is no going back on Sanwo-Olu’s ambition, unless Tinubu plans to self-destruct.

“It is political suicide for Tinubu to allow Ambode to go for a second term.

This is because of the way the governor conducted himself and sidelined party members since he emerged,” he said.

Sanwo-Olu is going ahead to attend the screening scheduled to hold in Abuja today, he said.

As at the time of filling this report, members of the Mandate Group maintained that Ambode’s exit is a done deal, stressing that under a democratic setting, a president lacks the powers to dictate who becomes governor in any state.

Racoon:
Just like the fraudulent Ogoni cleanup, Ajaokuta Steel Company rejunivation by Sarrki, Chai! I dey laugh!

However, there is an option that some of the aspirants could use proxies to obtain nomination forms for other elective positions

Barely three weeks to its national convention and presidential primary, the main opposition political party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has foreclosed the option of picking its presidential candidate for the 2019 election through consensus arrangement.

This is coming at a time PDP leaders are making moves to prune down the number of presidential aspirants to six, who will battle for the presidential ticket through balloting at the national convention schedule from October 5-6.

Daily Sun gathered that the PDP leadership and stakeholders, looking for a way to ensure non-contentious presidential primary, have settled for the emergence of its candidate through a process which would see all contestants going through an election, wherein delegates would vote.

Sources revealed that the PDP is opting for a democratic process to pick its presidential candidate in order to avoid an implosion, which may arise if a particular aspirant is pre-picked ahead of the party’s national convention.

It was gathered that the PDP, in a bid to have a united front after the presidential primary election, wants all aspirants to contest and be voted for, so that when the winner emerge there would be no allegation that the aspirants were not given a level-playing field.

Competent sources, however, told Daily Sun that in opting for balloting to pick the presidential candidate, the PDP is looking for someone who has the stature to win the presidential election at the end of the day.

Towards this end, it was gathered, the PDP has listed some qualities its candidate should possess.

Sources revealed that the PDP stakeholders want a candidate who is, first, accepted in the North, where the Presidency has been zoned.

In this regard, the party is looking for a candidate who the North, as a zone, including traditional institution, the elite and down-trodden, would accept as its own, especially since the major opponent, President Muhammadu Buhari, has a northern appeal.

The fear, it was gathered, is that a candidate not acceptable to the North would not stand a chance against President Buhari, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Daily Sun gathered that the PDP is also particular about a candidate, who has popular appeal nationwide, not one who is considered sectional in association and orientation, so that he could easily get votes across the country.

It was gathered that the PDP holds these qualities sacrosanct believing that in the presidential election it would be easy to sell such candidate to the generality of Nigerians as a better option to President Buhari.

Sources revealed that the PDP is also working hard to ensure that there will be no acrimony among the presidential aspirants when the candidate emerges at the national convention, so that everybody would work for victory at the presidential election.

The calculation is that those who would lose through democratic process in presidential primary would not feel short-changed, since it is a product of delegates’ votes, and therefore, would be willing to go to their respective states and strongholds to work for the party’s victory in the presidential election.

It was, however, gathered that after the presidential primary, the PDP and the presidential candidate would meet with other aspirants and agree on compensation after the victory at the presidential election.

However, there is an option that some of the aspirants could use proxies to obtain nomination forms for other elective positions, which they could fall back on after the presidential primary.

The thinking is that with the window of substitution of candidates, such aspirants could take up the tickets of proxies for other elective positions.

In a related development, PDP leaders are making frantic efforts to reduce the number of its presidential aspirants to not more than six.

Daily Sun reliably gathered yesterday that the move to reduce the number of presidential aspirants is spearheaded by the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT).

The PDP leaders are apprehensive that if all the aspirants are allowed to go for the presidential primary, the party may not be able to effectively manage issues that may arise in the nomination process.

An ad hoc committee set up by the BoT is scheduled to meet with the presidential aspirants in Abuja today, apparently as part of efforts to scale down the number of aspirants.

The BoT chairman, Senator Walid Jibrin, had earlier mooted the idea of getting the aspirants to agree to a consensus candidate from among them, which did not go down well with several of them.

A total of 13 aspirants obtained the PDP presidential nomination and expression of interest forms to participate in the party’s presidential primary.

They are: former Vice President, Abubakar Atiku; Senate President, Bukola Saraki; former chairman PDP National Caretaker Committee, Ahmed Makarfi; Sokoto State governor, Aminu Tambuwal; Gombe State governor, Ibrahim Dankwambo and former Minister of Special Duties, Taminu Turaki.

Others are former Senate President, David Mark; former governor of Kano State, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso; former governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido; former governor of Sokoto State, Attahiru Bafarawa; former governor of Plateau State, Jonah Jang the founder of Baze University, Senator Datti Baba-Ahmed and Stanley Osifo from Edo State.

As part of efforts to reduce the number of presidential aspirants, party leaders in the three geo-political zones in the North are said to be talking with presidential aspirants to arrive at a consensus, to brighten the chances of their zones in clinching the PDP ticket.

Seven of the aspirants are from the North West, three from North Central and two from the North East.

Daily Sun also gathered that the presidential aspirants have equally intensified negotiations among themselves, with the aim of getting some of them to withdraw from the contest.

Senator Makarfi, who is one of the presidential aspirants from the North West, confirmed to Daily Sun in a telephone interview that the aspirants were discussing among themselves.

When asked if there was a possibility of the seven aspirants from North West coming to a consensus, Makarfi said: “Not just from the North West. All aspirants are talking to themselves. It is not a North West affair. It is a Nigerian affair. The ticket is a northern affair. We are speaking with each other.”

A PDP leader from the NorthCentral, who did not want his name in print, told Daily Sun that some northern leaders were also talking with the presidential aspirants on the need for some of them to withdraw from the contest.

According to him, “the Northern Elders Forum and the Northern Consultative Forum have been doing a lot. They have been talking to them. Basically, what they are trying to do is not to force anybody to step down. They want them to see reason to have a manageable number who would go for the presidential primary.

“We agree that all of them are contesting; they have the requisite qualifications to rule the country, but at some points, it goes beyond just qualifying. They are talking to them, making them to have in mind that nobody should approach this primary with aggression. We don’t want a situation where anybody would want to leave the party if not given the ticket.”

Meanwhile, some of the presidential aspirants have continued to kick against the choice of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, as venue of the National Convention.

A party source told Daily Sun that owing to the misgiving expressed by some of the aspirants about holding the PDP convention in Port Harcourt, the leadership may consider a new venue.

The Special Presidential Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property has secured a warrant of arrest against embattled Delta senator, Peter Nwaoboshi, for alleged conspiracy, diversion of public funds and official corruption.

A Wuse Zone 2 Magistrates’ Court, Abuja, issued the warrant dated September 18 and signed by Akanni Olaide, the Chief District Judge II, Federal Capital Territory.

Spokesperson of the panel, Lucie-Ann Laha, made a copy of the warrant available to the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja on Thursday.

The panel is accusing Nwaoboshi of fraudulent acquisition of property and embezzlement of contract sum to the tune of N3.48 billion, among others.

The serving PDP senator, representing Delta North, is alleged to have illegally acquired houses, an estate and a company all worth billions of naira, in Asaba, the Delta capital.

According to the panel, he also used stolen public funds to acquire a house in Apapa, Lagos, and another property in London that are yet to be identified.

Nwaoboshi is said to have committed the alleged offences while serving as a commissioner in Delta.

The panel disclosed that it launched an investigation into the case following a tip-off by a whistle-blower.

It said the decision to seek the arrest warrant followed the “refusal” of the lawmaker and “the other owners” of the identified property to honour its invitation.

When NAN contacted Nwaoboshi on phone for reaction, a male voice answered the call, saying the senator was never invited by the panel.

“Tell the panel to show you evidence of the invitation they claim to have extended to the distinguished senator.

“There has to be something to show that they invited him and he refused to honour them,” the recipient, who refused to identify himself, said.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is also prosecuting the lawmaker in a Federal High Court in Lagos for alleged N805 million fraud.

President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday in Abuja met behind closed door with Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria reliably learnt that the governor would be updating the president on latest political development within the All Progressives Congress in Lagos State.

The governor’s political godfather, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and the leadership of the APC in Lagos State were alleged to have mounted pressure on Ambode, to drop his second term bid.

Tinubu, who is alleged to have endorsed Ambode’s opponent within the APC, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, had refused to back Ambode’s second term ambition despite pleas by concerned individuals and several socio- political groups from within and outside Lagos state.

NAN, however, gathered that governors under the platform of APC, who met on Wednesday night in Abuja, had on behalf of Ambode, sought the intervention of President Buhari in the APC crisis in Lagos state.

NAN reports that the Chairman of the APC Governors’ Forum, Gov. Rochas Okorocha, delivered the governors’ message to the president few minutes before his meeting with Ambode.

A source in the presidency told NAN that the president might end the tussle between Ambode and the Mandate Group, led by the APC National leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

NAN gathered that the president may also meet with other APC stakeholders in Lagos state within the week as part of efforts toward resolving the rift.

CanineOfJackal:
I'm fighting the right the mod that committed blunder and you want to donate yourself as cannon fodder.


ngwanu, tinye isi ka m GBA gi Ife ana gba sabo

CanineOfJackal:
Are you his "Hand Carry"

CanineOfJackal:
Ignorance of the Law is no excuse.


There is no amount of image laundering that can save this government