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Adams Oshiomhole, National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has revealed that party members collected dollars on offer by Atiku Abubakar in the leadup to the 2015 presidential election.

However, he said that they still ended up handing the party’s ticket to President Muhammadu Buhari.

Oshiomhole said this on Thursday during a 'World Press Conference' he held in Abuja, as a follow-up to the one by Atiku on Wednesday, dring which the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate described Saturday’s election as the worst in Nigeria’s history.

After attacking Atiku for jumping from party to party since leaving office as Vice President in 2007, Oshiomhole recounted how Atiku bribed APC members ahead of the 2014 presidential primary of the APC: “He joined us in Lagos, rolled out the dollars, and President Muhammadu Buhari had to say to APC people, myself inclusive: ‘I have no dollars to give. I do not have Intel or Itel [sic]; I do not have foreign account, and even if I have I will not give. All I offer is all my heart.

“The APC guys who couldn’t resist Atiku’s dollars collected those dollars, and voted for Buhari as our candidate.”

More to follow..

http://saharareporters.com/2019/02/28/breaking-oshiomhole-reveals-how-apc-guys-collected-atiku’s-dollars-voted-buhari

A Nonagenarian and the Esogban of Benin Kingdom, David Edebiri, has described the February 23 presidential and National Assembly (NASS) election as the freest in the country since 1951 when he started voting as an adult.

The Benin chief stated this when he addressed journalists in Benin on Wednesday.

He also called on Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to congratulate Mr Buhari and extend a hand of fellowship, just as he advised Mr Buhari to be magnanimous in victory and continue his anti-corruption fight.

“My reaction is one of great concern for some Nigerians, who tried, by all means, to scuttle this development, using the judiciary, using every means to scuttle the programme.

“If they had succeeded, then we would have returned to ”Egypt” where God delivered us from.
“I voted in the election. I started voting since in December 1951 and that is exactly 68 years ago.
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“Since I started voting in 1951, till date, I have not failed to vote in any election, including that which was conducted by Babangida on June 12, 1993.

“There was none of these elections that has been as free as the one we held on February 23. I say that from my own personal knowledge, this is not history that you read from books, this is something in which I participated.

“There was none of these elections that was as transparent, free and fair as the one we have just held, so to that extent, Muhammadu Buhari should be praised.

“He promised the world that there would be no interference in the electoral process and that is exactly what has happened, he told Nigerians that he will continue to fight corruption and all corruptive tendencies and that is what he has done,” he stated.

Mr Edebiri said Mr Buhari’s coming in 2015 saved Nigeria from total collapse.

“I want to assure you that but for the coming of Buhari in 2015, many of us here now would have been looking for where to seek exile, this country would have gone haywire but people did not seem to realise that.

“Because the man is fighting corruption head-long, all the people who are involved in some scandal, exploitation of our people, stealing of our money, ganged up to prevent this day from coming.

“Today, we are grateful to God almighty that we all lived to see it and I want to assure you that the second coming of Buhari will take Nigeria to a higher level both in economy and in defence as he has said.


“We also found that Nigeria has gotten respect from all parts of the world because of Buhari, this is a fact that no one can deny.

Mr Esogban said because of Mr Buhari’s anti-corruption stand, he commands global respect for Nigeria.
He further stated that throughout his campaign, it was only the president, who talked about fighting corruption. (NAN)

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/more-news/316700-nonagenarian-describes-saturdays-polls-freest-in-68-yrs.html

The People Democratic Party, PDP, and the All Progressives Congress, APC, have shared the Senate and House of Representatives seats in Saturday’s National Assembly polls in Bayelsa.

The results published by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, show that PDP won two Senate and two House of Representatives seats while APC clinched one Senate and two House of Representatives seats.

Mr Douye Diri of PDP won the Bayelsa Central Senatorial District election.

Prof. Teddy Adias, INEC Returning Officer for the district, who announced the result on Wednesday in Yenagoa, said that Diri polled 83, 978 votes to defeat Mr Festus Daumiebi of APC, who got 70, 998 votes.

Adias said that a total of 163, 587 votes were cast in the election, with 155, 874 being valid votes and 7,713 votes rejected.

In his reaction, Diri, the member, representing Yenagoa/Kolokuma/Opokuma Federal Constituency, said his victory belonged to the people.

“The victory is for my people and from my track record, I am going to continue the good work for the people,” he said.

In the Bayelsa West Senatorial District poll, Mr Lawrence Ewrudjiakpo of PDP defeated Capt. Mathew Karimo of APC.

In Bayelsa East, Mr Biobarakuma Degi-Eremenyo of APC emerged senator-elect.

Mr Preye Oseke of APC also emerged winner to represent the people of Southern-Ijaw Federal Constituency.

Oseke polled 56, 804 votes to beat the Speaker of Bayelsa House of Assembly, Mr Konbowei Benson, who got 34, 105 votes.

Prof. Steve Azaiki, of PDP is now member elect in the Federal House of Representatives, Yenagoa/Kolokuma/Opokuma Federal Constituency, while Mr Fred Agbedi was elected as a member of the Federal House of Representatives for Sagbama/Ekeremor Federal Constituency.

The Ogbise Federal Constituency result has yet to be announced.

The Commission had declared Mr Isreal Igoli APC as the winner of Brass/Nembe Federal Constituency election.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2019/02/pdp-apc-share-senate-reps-seats-in-bayelsa/

Yahaya Kwande, a close associate of Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has advised him to call and congratulate President Muhammadu Buhari.

Kwande, Grand Patron of the Waziri of the Adamawa Solidarity Vanguard, gave the advice on Tuesday in reference to the ongoing announcement of the presidential results by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

According to the results announced so far by the electoral body, President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is leading by a wide margin and is favourite to win.

A press statement personally signed by Kwande reads: "Results so far announced from Saturday’s presidential election have confirmed the choice made by Nigerians. They have resoundingly elected President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the election.

"Even though, I am a long time friend and associate of his closest rival, His Excellency Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), I heartily congratulate President Buhari for his win and the confidence Nigerians reposed in him by asking him to serve another four years in office.

"By the same token, I call on my friend, associate and brother, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, to pick up his phone and make the call to congratulate the President-elect. It is imperative that he toes the path of honour and do the needful to save the country of any conflagration. Our recent history under former President Goodluck Jonathan proved that this simple act has the full potential to keep Nigeria peaceful.

"Providence has given Atiku the uncommon favour of having his Jonathan moment by ending the long wait and apprehension as Nigerians await the final tally, which has by the way become a matter of symbolism since the outcome is already known.

"The atmosphere has become unnecessarily tense as those who failed Atiku politically continue to give his party and supporters false hope even in the face of a harsh reality. Only the Wazirin of Adamawa has the capacity to defuse this unhealthy tension and save this country from any implosion as some overzealous persons are waiting to make a mockery of our democratic process and further shatter the bonds of unity that holds our country together. I implore again that Alhaji Atiku Abubakar makes that call before the enemies of Nigeria exploit his delay to do the unthinkable."

Yahaya also advised President Buhari to be magnanimous in victory by ordering his supporters to desist from making derisive and derogatory comments that could provoke supporters of his opponents, who are still trying to process their losses at the polls.

http://saharareporters.com/2019/02/26/atikus-close-friend-kwande-urges-him-pick-phone-and-call-buhari

Following the defeat of the Peoples Democratic Party, Spokesman of Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the PDP, Segun Showunmi, has conceded defeat to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Showunmi contested to represent Abeokuta South Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.

https://www.independent.ng/breaking-its-over-atikus-spokesman-concedes-defeat/amp/

Tunji Bosun

Governor Ibikunle Amosun’s aide, Adebiyi Adesanya, has lost his life while the Secretary to the Ogun State Government, Taiwo Adeoluwa, was reportedly injured in a ghastly motor accident on Friday evening.

The PUNCH gathered that the accident occurred at Siun-Kobape along Sagamu-Abeokuta road.

Adeoluwa reportedly sustained a severe injury and has been rushed to the Federal Medical Centre, Idi -Aba , Abeokuta.

A source reliably told The PUNCH that the SSG has been transferred to the Intensive care unit of the FMC .

The remains of Adesanya who was popularly called friend of the governor have been deposited at the hospital morgue.

Details later.

https://punchng.com/breaking-amosuns-aide-dies-ssg-injured-in-auto-crash/

Professor Mahmood Yakubu, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has confirmed that the presidential and national assembly elections will proceed on Saturday February 23 as rescheduled.

Yakubu made the confirmation on Friday when he kicked off the final edition of the commission's daily media briefing to update the public on its preparedness for the election.

There had been fears that the losgistical issues that prompted the postponement may not have been resolved by now, however Yakubu declared on Friday: "Tomorrow is election day".

"A total of 72,775,502 citizens who have collected their Permanent Voter Cards are eligible to cast their ballots," he said. "Nigerians will elect a President out of a total of 73 candidates nominated by their politcal parties. Similarly, voters will choose 109 senators out of 1,880 candidates and 360 members of the House of Representatives out of 4,631 candidates."

http://saharareporters.com/2019/02/22/breaking-tomorrow-election-day-inec-chairman-declares

President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed astonishment at the huge amount of foreign currency flooding the country intended to influence the outcome of the general elections beginning on Saturday.

Malam Garba Shehu, the President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, in a statement in Abuja on Thursday, said Buhari raised the alarm during the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting on Wednesday.

The president accused some politicians of flouting money laundering regulations in their desperate bid to capture political power.

He, however, commended the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for successfully tracking the money in “millions of United States dollars”.

According to him, the EFCC success followed the presidential directive to investigative agencies to probe a number of high profile cases.

While reassuring the nation of his administration’s determination to wage relentless war against money laundering and terrorist financing, Buhari reiterated his appeal to Nigerians, especially politicians, to place the interest of the “country above all others, as they troop out to cast their votes in the coming elections’’. (NAN)

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/vote-buying-buhari-raises-alarm-over-huge-dollars-in-circulation.html

*Says PDP would lose states in the S’south

A Christian cleric in Port Harcourt, Rivers state, Prophet Udeme Bassey, has predicted victory for President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressive Congress (APC) over Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on Saturday.

He also predicted that Buhari would handover to an Igbo president in 2023, after successfully completing his tenure and bowing out as the most celebrated president in the nation’s history.

Prophet Udeme, who was spot on with his predictions in the 2015 election and Edo state 2016 governorship election, further stated that Buhari’s victory would defy the gang-up by former President Obasanjo and other prominent ex-rulers.

“PDP kept Nigeria in the current situation that Nigeria is in today. They have killed and buried Nigeria for 15 years, but God is very pleased with President Muhammadu Buhari and even one million OBJs and Atikus cannot unseat him.”

Bassey claimed that the PDP candidate is only on a mission to buy the remaining national assets that he failed to secure from 1999 – 2007 when he was Vice President.

Similarly, the cleric who said his prediction followed 31-day fasting and prayers for the 2019 general election, predicted that 70percent of current elected office holders would lose their election.

Read Also: Tinubu: Buhari didn’t order shoot on sight
“The APC will take over four of the six South-south states and weaker candidates in weaker parties would be favoured. Seventy percent of current politicians would lose their seats to their opponents in 2019.

“PMB will appoint more youths, women and Igbo politicians in his cabinet and his second tenure will be more friendly and his governance style will make Nigerians smile again,” he added.

Meanwhile, Christian cleric has urged Nigerians to be tolerant of others’ political and general views, stressing that his experience had shown that people are not comfortable with unfavourable truth.

He particularly lamented his predicament in the hands of his erstwhile landlord (names withheld) who allegedly threw him out of his apartment because of accurate prediction of the 2016 Edo state governorship race.

“I was not owing him rent, but he said that he could not harbour a man who is against his interest in his own house.”

http://thenationonlineng.net/buharill-win-handover-to-igbo-president-in-2023/

By Wednesday, February 13, 2019, experienced members of staff and management of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) knew that the February 16 presidential and national assembly elections would not hold — no matter the magic. But because of the pervading atmosphere of mutual distrust and suspicion at the commission, people went about their businesses in hushed tones, preparing for the worst.

Several INEC insiders told TheCable over the weekend that based on the experience from elections organised by the commission, the signs were already there that something was going wrong. But many of the commissioners were not comparing notes or even talking to each other, thereby compounding a situation that would lead to the embarrassing postponement of the elections. The prevailing atmosphere of in-fighting, inexperience of the logistics committee and poor preparations was further compounded by poor co-ordination by the leadership of INEC, insiders told TheCable.

“Typically,” a senior member of management told TheCable, “we take delivery of sensitive electoral materials, including ballot papers, two weeks to any given election. We then warehouse them with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). One week to the election, we send the materials to state offices of INEC. Basically, seven days to any election, all the sensitive materials are already at the states.”

At this stage, the official said, the resident electoral commissioners and electoral officers at the state level hold a pre-election conference with party agents and all who will be involved in the elections just to brief them and lay out the procedures.

“We also inform them about the state of preparations, that the materials have arrived and that they are ready to be distributed. This is routine. We take questions and observations and roll out the rules and regulations. We take comments and observations from them. It is like a normal stakeholders meeting,” the official told TheCable.

The official said the materials are then moved from the CBN zonal or state offices to various INEC offices in the state on the Tuesday preceding the elections, sometimes on Wednesdays — depending on how big the state is.

“By Friday, the materials are usually already at the ward levels, and then they are distributed to the polling units by Saturday morning. That is how things run on a good day,” the official said.

WARNING SIGNALS

Another INEC commissioner told TheCable that he sensed there was going to be trouble on Wednesday when the materials were yet to get to the states.

“Some of us, including INEC staff, knew things were not going to run smoothly when as at Wednesday, the materials were still at the airports in Port Harcourt, Lagos, Abuja and Kano. These are materials that should have been at the states in some cases and even local governments by then. It is incredible that we did not take a decision to reschedule until four hours to the commencement of the voting processes,” he said.

“Many of us were also amazed that the media did not pick up the warning signals. Even the observers, both local and international, did not ask INEC these questions. Why were the materials still stuck at the airports one day to voting? How on earth were we going to reach all the 119,000 polling units across 774 local government areas and 36 states in less than 24 hours? That was practically impossible, but the media and observers appeared to be focusing on trivial issues.”

INEXPERIENCE AND INFIGHTING

A member of INEC staff, who spoke at length on the logistical nightmare, said there is an atmosphere of mutual suspicion and distrust among national commissioners and this played a major role in disrupting the elections.

“Amina Zakari used to be in charge of logistics. Because of the controversy over her relationship with President Muhammadu Buhari, the chairman moved her to another department. That is not supposed to be a problem if she was replaced with someone else who can do the job well,” he said.

Although the INEC commissioner in charge of electoral operations and logistics is Okechukwu Ibeanu, he was only heading the standing committee. For the election proper, Mahmood Yakubu, the INEC chairman, inaugurated the ad hoc committee for logistics on January 3, 2019. The 17-person committee was specifically for the general election.

The chairman is Ahmed Tijjani Mu’azu, a retired air vice marshal. Other members are: Abubakar Nahuche, Mohammed Haruna (both INEC national commissioners), representatives from CBN, customs service, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Federal Road Safety Corps, immigration service, police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, DSS, army, navy and air force. Other are the INEC directors of electoral operations department, estate works and transport, procurement, and stores.

THINGS FALL APART

Mu’azu was new on the position and did not have any experience to fall upon when it comes to INEC electoral operations, according to insiders.

“Most of the commissioners were kept in the dark when things were going wrong, and because of the polluted atmosphere, people decided to keep quiet so as not to be accused of trying to usurp other people’s jobs. However, the INEC chairman is also conducting a general election for the first time, so he probably trusted the Mu’azu committee to deliver. Yakubu did not have the benefit of institutional memory which helped his predecessor, Prof. Attahiru Jega,” the insider told TheCable.

“Normally, Mu’azu should be giving regular updates to the INEC management on the situation on ground. He did not. The job of the committee was basically to clear and move materials within timelines. Going by the way things worked for us in the past, we should all know that if materials were not at the states by the preceding Saturday, there was going to be a major crisis. But a day to the election, the materials were still at the airports.

“Some states got materials. Katsina and Adamawa, for instance, were not affected. But states in the south-east were affected. Imagine if elections had gone ahead without the south-east. We all know how the narrative would have been shaped by now.”

Mu’azu used to help INEC with movement of materials before he retired form the air force and it was thought by the INEC leadership that he would do a good job if he was saddled with the task for the general election, an insider said.

“But that was a big mistake. Being put in charge of organising logistics for over 100,000 polling units is not the same thing as helping get some air force aircraft to help INEC transport materials. AVM Mu’azu was permanently at the airports as the crisis worsened, but what could he do?” the insider asked.

SLOW DECISION-MAKING

When it became glaring that elections could not take place all over the federation at the same time, INEC was also too slow in taking a firm decision and communicating it to Nigerians.

The senior member of management who spoke to TheCable said there was no need to wait till close to 3am on Saturday morning to announce the postponement.

“As soon as the emergency meeting of national commissioners started, it was clear that we needed to take a decision quickly and communicate this to Nigerians. We knew before the meeting was called that elections would not hold. For some weird reasons, the meeting kept dragging and dragging till past 2am,” he said.

Yakubu, addressing stakeholders on Saturday over the postponement, blamed it on sabotage and poor weather which he said disrupted flights on the eve of the elections.

However, Hadi Sirika, the minster of aviation, has debunked Yakubu’s claim that weather affected flights. The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) also said there were no disruptions caused by poor weather.

“The agency in line with the directive of the Honourable Minister of State (Aviation), Sen. Hadi Sirika, had earlier ensured a 24-hour operation at all Nigerian airports on Friday 15th February 2019 to facilitate the transportation of INEC materials nationwide,” NAMA said in a statement issued on Sunday.

WILL ELECTIONS HOLD ON FEBRUARY 24?

Now that the elections have been rescheduled for February 23 — amidst anger expressed by Nigerians — there are still fears that the polls might be postponed again.

However, the INEC chairman has assured Nigerians that the fiasco will not repeat itself.

INEC insiders also told TheCable that they expected things to run better since materials would not be at the locations on time.

“Initially, we were pushing for Monday or Tuesday to be picked as the new date, but the tech guys said they would need to re-programme the card readers and they would need six days to do that. Except the tech guys fail us, we are good to go now,” the senior member of management told TheCable.

https://www.thecable.ng/the-insider-how-inecs-in-fighting-inexperience-messed-up-feb-16-elections/

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Adams Oshiomhole has alleged that the Independent of National Electoral Commission, INEC, and its officials shared the news of planned postponement of the presidential and National Assembly elections with the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, before taking the action.

Oshiomhole spoke at the emergency caucus meeting of the APC held in Abuja Monday following the postponement of the elections.

The former Edo State Governor said, “I can put my hands on the quran and swear that INEC and its officials informed the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, before postponing the election. The PDP were well acquainted with the plans to move to the elections.

“This is why they did not receive the news with shock. They made us look like fools, because we were busy preparing for the elections while they were relaxing.”

Details later…

http://dailypost.ng/2019/02/18/inec-informed-pdp-postponing-polls-apc-chairman-oshiomhole/amp/

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has published hotlines, where Nigerians with authentic information that can lead to the arrest of culprits of vote buying, can reach the commission for a prompt response.

This was contained in a statement signed by EFCC’s spokesperson, Tony Orilade, and released on Friday.

The numbers to call are as follows:

ABUJA HQ – 08141219896, 09077928772, 09051923475, 09074456025

ABUJA ZONAL OFFICE — 09051916064, 09066270016, 08123827088

LAGOS OFFICE — 08033106347, 08123828744

PORT HARCOURT OFFICE — 08024428265

KANO OFFICE — 08090939606

GOMBE OFFICE — 07061813411

KADUNA OFFICE — 08058437872

ENUGU OFFICE — 07064917920

BENIN OFFICE — 08188722502

MAIDUGURI OFFICE — 08035899836

UYO OFFICE — 08055112603, 08180008030

SOKOTO OFFICE — 08081765401

ILORIN OFFICE — 08034516071

MAKURDI OFFICE — 08036328837

IBADAN OFFICE — 08113883322, 09030000520

http://dailypost.ng/2019/02/15/nigeria-decides-efcc-releases-hotlines-report-electoral-fraud-list-phone-numbers/

President Muhammadu Buhari says those who said he does not have the stamina to run for a second term can find something else to say, now that he has gone around the country to seek votes.

Many of Buhari’s critics and some of his supporters had called on the president not to run for a second term, following his health challenges.

In 2017, the president was away from Nigeria for a medical leave in the United Kingdom, which lasted over 100 days. Before the long trip, Buhari had initially gone on a medical vacation that lasted 57 days.

Upon his return to Nigeria, Buhari spent at least 50 days away from the public eye, after confirming that he had a blood transfusion, and had never been this sick in his life.

A security source told TheCable at the time that his disappearance from office due to rat infestation of his presidential office was a decoy to keep him under medical care.

The president has since recovered and resumed his duties as the commander in chief of the armed forces and the leader of the nation.

In a brief interview with CNN, Buhari suggested that he has shown his detractors that he has the stamina to run Nigeria for a second democratic term.

When asked about those who say he does not have the stamina to go round all the states for the campaign, Buhari said: “Well, I have done it, so they can give you another answer”.

Buhari visited every geopolitical zone in Nigeria in the build-up to the February 16 election, kicking off his campaign in enemy territory of Akwa Ibom, and ending the same in his home state of Katsina.

https://www.thecable.ng/those-who-say-i-dont-have-stamina-can-say-something-else-now-buhari-speaks-after-nationwide-campaign/amp

A former President of the United States, Bill Clinton on Thursday phoned president Muhammadu Buhari, ahead of Saturday’s polls.

Presidential spokesperson, Femi Adesina in a statement, said the former US president regretted his inability to visit the country to witness the signing of the final peace accord before the general elections.

Buhari, Abubakar Atiku of the main opposition party, PDP and other presidential candidates on Wednesday signed the second phase of the peace accord for the 2019 general elections, organised by the National Peace Committee (NPC) under the chairmanship of former Head of State, Abdulsalami Abubakar.

Clinton wished Nigeria well as her citizens go to the polls.

Buhari appreciated Clinton for his continuous support for Nigeria and the growth of her democracy.

He described him as a friend of the country, while commending his constant support for the peace, stability and progress of Nigeria under a democratic dispensation.

President Buhari also assured him of his commitment to free, fair and credible elections in the weeks ahead.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/elections-bill-clinton-phones-buhari.html

The controversy over the Executive Committee of the Ogun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the list of candidates for the 2019 general election has been laid to rest as the Supreme Court on Monday (11th February, 2019) struck out the appeal of the PDP seeking to relist its appeal against the 24th June, 2016 judgment of the Federal High Court, Lagos, which affirmed the Engr. Adebayo Dayo-led State Exco of the PDP in Ogun State.

The Dayo-led Exco is backed by the lawmaker representing Ogun East Senatorial District, Senator Buruji Kashamu who has been locked in a battle for the control of the state party structure and candidates’ list.

The trial court judgment also mandated INEC to accept the list of candidates emerging from primaries conducted by the said Exco for the 2019 general elections in Ogun State.

When the matter came up on Monday, the apex court during the proceedings sought to know the nature of the appeal; whether it was a pre-election matter or not.

Responding, the appellant’s counsel (PDP), Mr. Emeka Etiaba stated that it was not a pre-election matter.

However, the respondents’ counsel, Dr. Alex Izinyon (SAN) referred the court to the appellant’s pending application for abridgment of time wherein they stated facts pointing to a pre-election case.

These facts, he pointed out, formed the basis and grounds of the said application for abridgment of time.

Seeing that their application had been caught up by the 4th Alteration to the 1999 Constitution, Etiaba subsequently withdrew the appeal and it was accordingly struck out based on the provisions of Section 285 of the Constitution.

No order was made as to cost.

With the striking out of the appeal in SC.968/2018 PDP Vs Chief (Engr.) Adebayo Dayo & 4Ors., it puts an end to the several speculations surrounding the list of PDP candidates in Ogun State.

It is now end of the road for Adebutu and other candidates purportedly backed by the national leadership of the party.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2019/02/supreme-court-strikes-out-appeal-against-kashamu-backed-ogun-pdp-exco/

President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday said that only God will punish the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for looting the country dry.

The PDP was in power for 16 years in the country before the All Progressives Congress (APC) came into office in 2015.

Meeting with local and international support groups at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, the President said that those proven to be corrupt will be prosecuted.

He said that their properties would be confiscated and sold while the money realised would be put into the treasury for public use.

Addressing leaders of 1,000 support groups on Friday, the President said: “Large scale abuse of trust, only God can give them punishment but those we can touch, we will get them prosecuted.

“We have said properties confiscated should be sold and the money put into treasury and we will use.”

He said when he assumed office, he approached Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) who told him there was no money in federal treasury.

He also noted there was no infrastructure or any developmental achievements to justify draining of the substantial earnings from crude oil.

“I have said this for the umpteenth time and I have challenged them to prove me wrong but in those 16 years of PDP rule, Nigeria was getting 2.1 million times 100 (2.1 million barrels by $100 per barrel) every day, every week but when we came on board, the price fell to between $37-38 and hung around $40-$50.

“I went to the Central Bank of Nigeria, and asked him for money and he said there was no money.”

The last time roads rehabilitation, he said, was under General Sani Abacha, when he served as Chairman of Petroleum Trust Fund, stressing that the roads where rehabilitated up to the east.

Speaking on his integrity, Buhari said: “If I didn’t stick to my principle of accountability I would have been in trouble by now and I have no regrets.

“Everybody wants to be comfortable but the most important thing is to live within your means and bear the consequence.”

On why he visited the neighboring countries shortly after he was sworn in, he said: “If you don’t establish good relations with your neighbours you will spend more on security.”

The leader of the delegation, Dr. Mahmud Mohammed, said the groups supported him because of his integrity and commitment.

He said for the first time in the history of campaigns, they were campaigning with meager funds generated from well -wishers because the president specifically directed that no money from the public funds should be spent on his campaign.

He said: “From tomorrow we will not sleep. We still start house- to- house, shop- to- shop and market- to- market campaign to ensure your victory.”

http://thenationonlineng.net/only-god-can-punish-pdp-for-looting-nigeria-buhari/

The Nigerian government is insisting that its military has “successfully defeated” Boko Haram insurgents, but says the country is now facing a fresh crisis, which it called a “global insurgency.”
The government stated this when it launched a national campaign to rally the support of the citizens behind the troops, especially those fighting the insurgency in the northeast.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, announced the launch of the campaign on Thursday in Abuja.

Mr Mohammed said Nigerian troops have “successfully cleared the remnant of the home-grown insurgency called Boko Haram and are now being confronted by a fresh crisis, a global insurgency.
“A faction of Boko Haram has aligned with the global terror group, ISIS, to form ISWAP, the Islamic State’s West African Province. In other words, ISIS now has a strong foothold in West Africa – with Nigeria at the forefront of the battle against them.

“With ISIS largely dislodged from Iraq and Syria, there is undoubtedly a flush of fresh fighters and weapons to ISWAP. Therefore, our military is fighting a global insurgency, without the kind of global coalition, including the United States, that battled ISIS in Syria and Iraq,” he said.

There has been a resurgence in attacks on Nigerian soldiers by the insurgents since last year. The latest attack occurred only a few weeks ago.

The minister said the videos and pictures being circulated on social media purporting massive military casualties were “doctored by those who do not understand the fresh threat facing the country nor appreciate the sacrifice of the military and their aim is to wage a campaign of disinformation against the military.”

He said, “those involved in the act are few, and do not represent the majority of Nigerians who appreciate the patriotism and the sacrifice of the gallant military troops.”

Mr Mohammed said it is high time all Nigerians “joined in and support the global war against insurgency, as it is a usual practice that when a country is faced with this kind of challenge, people will sink their differences and work together.”

He said the new campaign is a follow-up to the “hugely-successful National Campaign against Insecurity which we launched on February 16, 2016, with the punchline ‘If You See Something, Say Something’.”

Mr Mohanmmed said the government believes that “the military who are risking all and making a huge sacrifice to keep the citizens safe do not deserve defamation, or any action that can smear their morale rather, they deserve support and prayers of all Nigerians.”

He said the government was introducing the campaign to encourage and mobilise “Nigerians, irrespective of their political, religious or ethnic leanings, to show support for our military.”

He said the campaign will be multi-faceted. “It will include the production and airing of special jingles on radio and television, social media intervention and advocacy.

“The jingles are ready and also the materials for newspaper and social media, the jingles will start airing on radio and television this week.”

Mr Mohammed appealed to the media to seek clarification before reporting casualty figures as they will play the lead role in the campaign. He urged them not to reveal national security as well as military plans since such acts can put the troops in harm’s way.

The minister refused to answer questions not related to the launch of the campaign.
John Agim, the spokesperson of the Nigerian Defence Headquarters, said the military will sometimes keep information from media so as to avoid giving information away that would favour the insurgents and also to avoid unnecessary fright among citizens.

He cited an incident around 2015 and 2016 when the pictures of about 18 Boko Haram members were published and they all escaped to Lagos.

He said the military did not bother to announce that they were being arrested one after the other because the arrests would not have been possible if the information had been published.

The event was witnessed by top military officials, including the Director of Public Relations and Information of the Nigerian Air Force, Ibikunle Daramola; the outgoing Director of Army Public Relations, Sani Usman; and the Director of Information of the Nigerian Navy, Suleman Dahun.

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/311160-boko-haram-is-defeated-nigeria-now-facing-global-insurgency-minister.html

Nobel Laureate Professor Wole Soyinka on Tuesday raised concern about how impunity has allegedly taken over the country.

In a statement entitled ‘Trivialise Corruption, Neutralise Justice!”, he took a swipe at some members of the legal community and blamed politicians for the rate of impunity.

“The reign of impunity will prevail as long as the legal community continues to betray its calling, its oath of office, even its rites of professional collegiality and its responsibility to the rest of us,” Professor Soyinka said.

He added, “It is disappointing that even under a government that promised to dust up the files of political murders and end that reign of homicidal impunity, the Association has not thought fit to demand from the Buhari government its findings.”

According to the Nobel Laureate, impunity covers all crimes including material corruption and any social or governance institution which fails to stem the tide of criminality flings open the channels of impunity.

He accused President Muhammadu Buhari of applying what he described as “hands-off approach” to the menace of killings by herdsmen in parts of the country.

Professor Soyinka further criticised some members of the judiciary for their roles in recent events in the country, particularly the trial of Justice Walter Onnoghen.

He also cautioned Nigerians to be on red alert as such happenings have become synonymous with election periods in the country.

The Nobel Laureate, however, lauded a group of lawyers he referred to as the reformist council who have taken it upon themselves to clear the alleged rot in the judiciary.

Read the full statement below,

TRIVIALISE CORRUPTION, NEUTRALISE JUSTICE!

It is heartening news that some 20 CONCERNED LAWYERS have come together to undertake the mission of cleaning up the Aegean stables that seem to pass today for the Nigerian Judiciary. Some of us do need an institution to which we can look up, of which we should even live in awe. Some find that in religious institutions, others in traditional fixtures, some even in family and so on. All agree that the Order of Justice is a pre-eminent candidate for collective regard and even self-regulation. No matter, we all know that, without Justice, society unravels at the seams, and its citizens resort to self-help.

I feel especially exercised by recent happenings within that Body currently from a dominant perspective: it has become increasingly fashionable to sneer at any anti-corruption preoccupation. No, no one actually ever goes so far as to condone corruption. Perish the thought! Gradually, however, the nation’s psyche is being both subtly and brazenly returned to accept not simply corruption as the norm of social relationships, but its heightened product, impunity, as a national emblem. The justification? The machinery that was launched against corruption with such fanfare, it is claimed, has run aground. Selectivity has been cited as proof. Insincerity, non-seriousness, cynical distraction, are routine assessments of the current governmental campaign.

Even the heady draught of ‘stomach infrastructure’ – ‘na anti-corruption we go chop?’ is now applauded, accompanied by guffaws wherever decanted. Not surprising then, that it was only a matter of time before the flagbearer of one of the ‘parties to beat’ came out openly to dismiss the punitive option, delivering the promise of Amnesty as one of the corner-stones of his plans for the nation. It was a well-calculated gambit. That candidate, an astute politician with his nose to the ground, found that ground primed, ready and conducive. Soon, this will be topped by some rivalling knight in shining armour from rivalling parties who promise prosecution and prison sentence for anyone who bad-mouths corruption – of course, always with a caveat – until all the ills that infest society have been completely eradicated – guinea-worm, river blindness, soil erosion, oil pollution, rape, kidnapping incest etc. etc. not forgetting the transformation of the entire national infrastructure and the full elimination of the last vestiges of Boko Haram, killer herdsmen, Lassa bearing rodents and potholes on the road.

Must one reiterate the obvious? It seems we must. A basic awareness of the link between corruption and all the above-named preoccupations is fast disappearing. Such as hospitals that were never built, or never provisioned. Unthinkable is the proposition that a military commander who diverts funds meant for the elimination of Boko Haram to his family is even more despicable than Boko Haram which does the actual killing of innocents. And what of high-profile murders that had their roots in the open adoption of corruption as a lifestyle, and the increasing sophistication of cover-up operations?

No connection between the rising tide of unemployment and the corrupt wastage of resources meant for industrialisation and job generation? For the stubborn skeptics, and/ or those who understandably mistrust the testimony of former government associates, such as Okonjo-Iweala’s FIGHTING CORRUPTION IS DANGEROUS, perhaps they will at least credit the personal testimony of a battle-scarred Nigerian businessman as expressed in a passage from his recent autobiography. That work, artlessly and refreshingly frank, written by a businessman, Newton Jibunoh makes the following revelation in the chapter titled, CORRUPTION, aka GIFTING IN CONTRACTS:

“I would go to Mr Farrington (Jibunoh’s boss) on so many occasions and say, this is the situation, this is the truth (i.e., it’s ‘gift’ or lose). Farrington would refer it to London and London would say, no way. I tell you, if you go into how Dumez left Nigeria, how Boutgyes left Nigeria, how Guffanti left Nigeria, how Taylor Woodrow Nigeria, it came from this issue. They all packed up. Taylor Woodrow used to be beside us at Costain. They packed up.”

So, ‘na anti-corruption we go chop?’ is not entirely rhetorical Some do chop and distend on corruption. Others, however, starve from job losses and die of it!

Yes, it is election time, and issues that are normally generalised take on enhanced desperation. A recent image sticks to the mind, and for it, we must be thankful to that very desperation that is born of elections. Those who are familiar with the culture of organised crime – as perfected, structurally and sociologically by the Italian Mafia, will have caught that image. Perhaps it struck me forcefully because earlier, the nation has been treated to alarms of a Sanni Abacha coming back to rule the nation. It is the image of a Mafia lieutenant paying due homage to the Capo di Capi Tutti. At Freedom Park, only this last day of January, I bade the nation beware of the convocation of the Conclave of the Corrupt.

The warning was prompted by that most evocative image. Many have only seen such scenarios in cinema – the Don Corleone narratives. I have however seen it in gruesome activation. I witnessed it first-hand in the ‘before and after’ of the civilian revolution that was – coincidentally – led by two lawyers. They fought, and restored the rule of law in Sicily under seemingly impossible conditions. One of them lost his life in the process, the other lived to tell the tale of the rescue and transformation of a society whose mayor he also became. Sicily, that erstwhile island of fear has now become a beacon of liberal culture and social enlightenment.

By contrast, here, to put it charitably, our lawyers appear to be confused about what their role should be when confronted by the spectre of impropriety within their own Guild – note, I do not even say ‘corruption’. Impropriety will do for now. Is it really that hard to pursue the letter of the law and provisions of the constitution, simultaneously with the pursuit of an ethical imperative and thus, guide this nation in the morality of balanced perspectives? Is it really impossible to interweave both? The latter – the ethical imperative has gone missing in the overall collective voice of the NBA over the affair of the Chief Justice of Nigeria. The scantiest lip-service has been done to that social plinth, and I find this most distressful.

Impunity covers all crimes, not just material corruption. And any social or governance institution which, through act or negligence, fails to stem the tide of criminality within its charge, flings open the sluices of impunity. This has been the case of President Buhari in his lacklustre, indeed hands-off approach to the menace of the killer herdsmen – at least at the beginning, before swathes of Nigeria were reduced to slaughter fields, thriving farms erased off the food supply chain of the nation. (They are back, by the way, reported to have recently set fire to farms in Oyo State!) Leadership lapse was further compounded by admission by the governor of Kaduna State that he had been paying ‘blood money’ to the killers responsible for that human and sustenance campaign of depletion!

Impunity stalks the land, indeed it is virtually lording it all social interstices. Let no one take my word for it – simply turn the pages of the media any day. Impunity’s ravages churn the mind. Somehow, this nation – and here again we turn to our learned friends – this nation generally failed to recognise, much less learn from the murder and enabling implications of the unsolved murder of Bola Ige, the nation’s Attorney-General and Minister of Justice. The Bar Association accepted the casual disposition of its erstwhile captain and has – understandably perhaps? – moved on. For some of us, however, the files are not closed. Others also appear to be determined to keep them open, though of course, remain blissfully unaware that their boastful, impenitent conduct in other departments constantly re-ignite the time clouded embers. I believe that the present crisis in judicial ranks offers yet another opportunity to bring up that tragedy starkly and rub the nation’s face in its horror. Only thus do we make all understand why it remains intolerable that any attempt be made at trivialising the nature of corruption. especially in order to score dismissive political points. The work of the Reformist Twenty – now firmly established in our minds as a pledge – is clearly cut out for them, and must not be shirked.

For those whose memories have faded on that crime: Bola Ige was murdered in his bedroom by professional assassins, his police minders having abandoned him to his own devices. Before his final posting as Minister of Justice, he was Minister of Power – and what a frustrating tenure that was for him, frustrating and humiliating. As I have remarked elsewhere numerous times, his was a ministry in which I took keen personal interest. He kept me posted on the ups and downs – the betrayals, conspiracies and actual bouts of sabotage. When he left Abuja to set up camp in Lagos in order to slice through to the centre of sabotage, we remained in constant touch, either in person, or through his Special Assistant, Dr Olu Agunloye. Bola Ige had been named to a prestigious legal position in the United Nations and was then on his way to take up the posting. His past in the Ministry of Power pursued him, however. It had pursued him into the ‘face-saving’ ministry of Justice. That transfer however only placed been in an even more powerful position to bring to justice those who had held this nation to ransom for years and retarded her development through systemic corruption of gargantuan dimensions in his former ministry. He had to be eliminated.

That was tragic enough. However, what happened next is what remains to haunt this nation, at least those portions of it that still attempt to cling to even the barest shreds of social conscience. Talk of history repeating itself! A shaming round of judicial penkelemes, near identical to present proceedings, ensued. Even before the trial proper, judges sat, fulminated, cooed, withdrew, were re-assigned, recused themselves, sat tight, defied pressure, succumbed etc.etc. on the issue of bail to some of the accused. Virtually all complained of external interference. One of them, Justice Abass, kept a diary in which he accused – among other culprits members of the Bar – that is, members of the Nigerian Bar Association – of improper importuning on behalf of some of the accused. One of them was set down as actually bringing messages from highly placed “least expected” quarters. The judge was moved to soliloquise, in his diary: What is their interest? What is at stake that officers sworn to uphold the law should attempt to exert improper influence on me, and in such a brazen manner. The importuning included material inducements.

Justice Abass put up a struggle but eventually threw in the sponge. The pressure, the harassment, proved too much. Before that, however, he made copies of his diary and distributed the pages for safe-keeping. Three or four of these pages came into my possession – I made this public knowledge at the time. I asserted that, at the very least, in attempting to solve that murder mystery, the diary was one place to begin. Who were these highly placed people who had such a prohibitive stake in Bola Ige’s murder trial as well as the situation of the suspects that they suborned sworn officers of the law. The crime, incidentally, was littered with clues – this was just another wedge through which it became mandatory to penetrate through to the sordid crime and identify the conspirators. The case had developed unsavoury but exceedingly useful ramifications. Who were these forces so bent on subverting the processes of justice in the investigation of the murder of the highest Law Officer of the land? We screamed in vain. The NBA did not take up the challenge. That Association had a primary responsibility of ferreting out the tools of subversion in their midst. Justice Abass set down dates, place, hour and witnesses – in writing. He used a code of initials for participants.

This narrative remains incomplete without reference to another form of intervention. Along the way, during our own ‘busybody’ forays, we invaded the American Consulate. Why? Simply because we had learnt that the American government had offered help, that they had assigned some experts to assist the Nigerian police in unearthing the mystery of the murder, but that the police had rejected help. We headed for the embassy to insist that they should ignore the Nigerian police. Bola Ige was already an international civil servant of the United Nations anyway, and was entitled, even more so in extra-judicial death, to considerations of international intervention. The Consul-General received us cordially. She confirmed our information, that the Nigerian government had refused the offer of assistance. I asked permission to use her phone and we called the president, who was none other than Olusegun Obasanjo. Was it true, I asked, that his government had rejected external assistance?

Details of the exchange are not relevant to this narrative, though they are readily available if of interest to anyone. What matters is that there was serious talk of introducing lie-detectors to be used on the accused, its effectiveness or whatever or acceptability. We were put on Hold while Obasanjo called the Inspector-General of Police, and put him on the speaker-phone. All that is of interest, but is not really crucial to the subject of this intervention. There will be further elaborations in due course.

I have brought it up principally to exclaim: History Strikes Again! Also to decry yet again the unbelievably short memory span of that breed known as Nigerians. Amnesia is often a contrived tactic of escapism, which, to put it bluntly, is another word for moral cowardice. I have brought it up principally to remind the judiciary, and associate orders such as the Bar Association, that the war between impunity and Justice is an incessant one. Corruption is not a trait to be trivialised for political opportunism or locker-room guffaws. Corruption murdered the Nation’s Minister of Justice and Attorney-General, and Justice was rendered helpless in the defence of its own Prime Advocate.

The reign of impunity will prevail as long as the legal community continues to betray its calling, its oath of office, even its rites of professional collegiality and its responsibility to the rest of us. It is disappointing that even under a government that promised to dust up the files of political murders and end that reign of homicidal impunity, the Association has not thought fit to demand from the Buhari government its findings. There is more than ample material to warrant a Judicial Commission, and that demand has come up again and again. It will continue for as long as there remains a shred of conscience somewhere in this nation, especially when provoked into resurgence by the antics of those who murdered Justice to enthrone corruption and bask in the miasma of Impunity.

As always, election time brings out the worst of animalism in political participants. Justice was betrayed on that edition, repudiated, hung up to dry, and the door left wide open for commissioned killers. Bola Ige, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, died in the line of duty. Justice Salami at least survived the rites of passage – I felt honoured to have been invited by him to deliver the lecture for his valedictory occasion. The government at the time of Ige’s killers know the truth. That government protected – I repeat – protected, and rewarded his killers.

Those who wish to dispute this had better first immerse themselves in the circumstances of that murder, and the unconstitutional, indeed illegal trajectory of the principal accused, one that not only facilitated his unconstitutional participation in the ensuing election but catapulted him straight to the occupancy of the seat that had been kept warm for him during his trial and absence. On release, he was ushered straight into the slot of Chairman of the Appropriation Committee of the House of Representatives. That was not all. The head of that government, General Olusegun Obasanjo, proceeded to burnish Ige’s memory with characteristic zeal. With that victim in no position to defend himself, that inveterate letter-writer sent a reference letter to Ige’s new abode – just in case there are ministries of power over yonder:

“We put Bola Ige there to rectify the power situation. It turned out that he did not know his left hand from his right”

Bola Ige’s murder took place at election time. Once again, we are confronted with another election. Killings and kidnappings have escalated. Once again – coincidence be damned! – the judiciary is in disarray. A political association – which I once described as a den of killers – is regrouping, wishes to direct the fortunes of this nation yet again. This nation needs no reminding that, yes indeed, the rule of law must prevail, and constitutionality must not be trivialised. Neithe, however, must criminality, or else, history merely repeats itself in increasingly dismal accents. Justice becomes neutralised.

Citizen Forum welcomes the Reformist Council of Twenty. On the political forum, we urge: Let the ghosts of the past be laid to rest. Let a new breed emerge.

Wole SOYINKA

Convener, CITIZEN FORUM

https://www.channelstv.com/2019/02/05/impunity-will-prevail-if-legal-community-continues-to-betray-its-calling-soyinka/

Retired military officers in the three armed forces comprising Army, Navy and Air Force, on Monday endorsed President Muhammadu Buhari for second term.

The Presidential election is slated for February 16, 2019.

The retired generals comprising 13 major generals, eight Air vice Marshals (AVM), two Rear Admirals, 12 Brigadier Generals, nine Air commodores, eight Commodores and 17 former military administrators gave the endorsement on Monday.

They were led by former military administrator of Lagos State, Brigadier General Buba Marwa (rtd).

Also among the delegation are former President Goodluck Jonathan’s minister of Police Affairs, Navy Capt Caleb Olubolade, and former Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Jubril Ayinla.

Details Later…

http://thenationonlineng.net/retired-generals-back-buhari-second-term/

….Commends him for his services

By Nwafor Sunday

President Muhammadu Buhari, Monday wrote a personal letter to vice President Yemi Osinbajo. In the letter, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, commended his running mate for his services, patriotism, tenacious spirit and unalloyed loyalty, noting that he (Buhari) is proud to have somebody like Osinbajo by his side.

Read the letter below: Dear Yemi, We give glory to Almighty God for sparing your life. I’m impressed by your tenacious spirit which enabled you to continue on your campaign engagement, despite the shock of the crash. It takes tenacious spirit and amazing spiritual strength to survive a helicopter crash without being paralyzed by its impact. I’m proud of our partnership and your unalloyed loyalty and your commitment to the service of Nigeria.

That you proceeded with your engagements, despite the accident, is a testimony of your passion for service to country and a reflection of your admirable spiritual fervor.

May God continue to protect you and all those on board with you, bless your lives and grant you more good health and long life to serve our country even more.

Read more at: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2019/02/breaking-buhari-writes-personal-letter-to-osinbajo/

The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has explained why he ran away and remained in exile since September 2017 when the army raided his residence in Abia State.


“I ran away because Jubril (President Muhammdu Buhari) sent the military to my house to come and kill me and they expected me to stay and confront them. I’m unarmed just as IPOB members are unarmed group,” Nnamdi Kanu said in a broadcast on Radio Biafra monitored on its Facebook page.

He was responding to his critics who mock him for running away and abandoning his followers in Nigeria.

The live broadcast is his second after he resurfaced in a video that trended last October showing him in Israel.

Mr Kanu has been at the vanguard of the call for an independent Biafra Republic from the Nigerian state through a referendum.

The IPOB leader, who is facing charges of treasonable felony at the Federal High Court in Abuja, had called for a boycott of elections in Anambra in November 2017 if the government failed to set a date for a referendum.

The call for a boycott failed as thousands participated in the election.

Last September, two months before the Anambra election, a clash occurred between IPOB members and soldiers when the military commenced an operation in South-east states.

Since then, Mr Kanu’s whereabouts remained unknown until his reappearance in an online video.


Mr Kanu in Saturday’s broadcast said he fled to Israel because it is the safest place for him to stay alive and achieve his dream of a Biafra republic.

“I want to ask those that criticise me about what they have done in their life,” the separatist leader said.

“Did you know that Nelson Mandela ran to Nigeria for safety during his time?

“No one in Nigeria has done what I have done. I came home and I confronted the army, I went to their court, I was unlawfully detained, I went home, conducted a rally and they sent their army to come and kill me.


“Nnia Nwodo, Okezie Ikpeazu, Obiano, and Umahi were the ones that signed and brought the army to kill me.

“Yes, I fled to Israel because it is the safest place for me and I needed to stay alive and achieve Biafra republic. Tell those who said that I ran away to read their history book, they will find out that all the popular human rights activists, both dead and alive, ran away when it’s the best time to.”

The IPOB leader also reiterated his call for a boycott of the February 16 elections, calling on all “Biafrans” to sit at home on election day.

“By voting, all you are doing is perpetuating the misery of our people.

“To vote in the zoo means to endorse 1999 fraudulent constitution. By voting, all you are doing is perpetuating the misery of our people.”

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/regional/ssouth-east/309728-why-i-ran-away-from-nigeria-nnamdi-kanu.html

Hoodlums on Thursday attacked the campaign convoy of the PDP governorship candidate in Lagos State, Mr Jimi Agbaje at Iba in Ojo, west of Lagos.

A News Agency of Nigeria political correspondent reports that the convoy had just left the palace of the Oniba of Iba, Oba Goriola Oseni when it came under ferocious attack.

The PDP governorship candidate had gone to the monarch to inform him of his plan to hold his campaign rally in the area later in the day before the incident.

As the convoy was driving out, hoodlums, numbering about 40, chased and threw stones at Agbaje’s vehicles.

Some of the hoodlums, clutching daggers and machetes, rode on motorcycles to keep pace with the speed of the convoy, throwing pebbles continually at the convoy.

The rear windscreen of a bus conveying some party members was shattered.

Some occupants of the bus sustained minor injuries caused by the shattered glass.

The hoodlums continued to advance towards the convoy for further attacks, before security details in the convoy engaged them, firing tear gas at them.

They later beat a hurried retreat when the convoy managed to escape.


However, Agbaje and people in other vehicles did not sustain injuries.

Speaking earlier at the Oniba’s palace, Agbaje said he did not believe that politics should be a do-or-die affair.

He said that he had always been an advocate of peaceful politics because he believed that power should not be sought through violence.

It was in demonstration of that belief that he came down from his vehicle to greet some APC members when he sighted them on his way to the palace.

“I don’t believe in do-or-die politics. I have always believed in peaceful politics and that is what I practice.

“Why should people kill themselves because of politics? It should not be, politics should be a platform to serve and not to cause destruction.

“On my way to the palace today, I saw some APC supporters in their party vests and I came down from the vehicle to greet them.

“They looked at my face in disbelief at first. We later embraced each other and exchanged friendly words. That should be the spirit.”

Agbaje told the monarch that he was in the palace to pay homage and seek the royal father’s blessing for his planned rally in the area as that was the right thing to do.

(NAN)


https://punchng.com/hoodlums-attack-agbajes-convoy-in-lagos/

Businesses in Kano State remain shut Thursday, in anticipation of President Muhammadu Buhari’s arrival in the ancient city in continuation of the campaign for his re-election in the forthcoming presidential poll.

Some of the traders who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria said they needed to shut down for security reasons, while some said they closed their shops to enable them to attend the function.

Malam Usman Bala, a shop owner at the famous Kwari textiles market, said many shops remained shut because the venue of the presidential rally was close to the market.

“In order to safeguard our goods, many of us did not even go to the market, while some opened for few hours in the morning, and then, shut down,” Bala said.

Similarly, petty traders around Murtala Muhammed Specialist Hospital and Rimi market also said that they closed their shops due to closeness to the venue of the event.

However, Yahuza Aminu said, they had a tough time last week when a political party held a rally at the same venue.

“Young men wielding weapons seized cell phones and money from traders. So, everyone is trying to avoid the re-occurrence of such incidence today,” Aminu said.

https://punchng.com/2019-elections-businesses-shut-for-buharis-campaign-in-kano/

A businessman, Femi Otedola, on Monday told a court that he received the $500,000 used to bribe a former House of Representatives member, Farouk Lawan, from the State Security Service.

Mr Otedola said this during his cross-examination by a defence lawyer, Mike Ozekhome, at the Apo Division of the FCT High Court.

He appeared as the prosecution witness in Mr Lawan’s trial after the latter was arraigned for allegedly attempting to receive $3 million from the witness, while he chaired a committee of the House of Representatives in 2012.

Mr Lawan was then chairing the committee that investigated billions spent fraudulently on petrol subsidy and the beneficiary companies. Mr Otedola, one of Nigeria’s richest persons, is in the oil and gas business.

Mr Otedola had accused Mr Lawan of blackmailing him with a request of $3 million to clear his company from the investigation.

The businessman added that he was given money after he reported Mr Lawan to the SSS in a petition.

He said the money was given to him at his residence after seven SSS officials visited him, following a petition he wrote to complain about the alleged blackmail.

Responding to a question from Mr Ozekhome, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, about the source of the money allegedly given to Mr Lawan, Mr Otedola said: “It was handed over to me by the DSS.”

Mr Otedola added that he gave the $500,000 to Mr Lawan in two tranches of $250,000. He said the SSS had informed him that they recovered the call logs between him and other parties in the matter.
Mr Otedola, however, said his only written communication with the SSS is the petition written to the agency.

According to Mr Otedola, he was interrogated verbally by the SSS and did not make a written statement, besides his petition. Mr Otedola further said that the camera used in capturing the disbursement of the bribe to Mr Lawan was removed shortly after the defendant left with the money.
He, however, responded in the negative when asked whether his companies, Zemon Oil and gas and Forte Oil, were in the list of companies investigated by Mr Lawan’s committee.

Mr Ozekhome questioned Mr Otedola’s account of the said bribery. He said the alleged collection of a bribe in a sting operation like that described by Mr Otedola should have included the arrest of Mr Lawan after receiving the money.

Responding to Mr Ozekhome’s submission, Mr Otedola said he had noted the need to arrest Mr Lawan but was told to wait till the matter is concluded at the committee.

Mr Ozekhome also questioned the failure of the SSS to submit evidence of alleged calls between Mr Otedola and the other parties to the court.

Mr Lawan was first arraigned in February 2013 along with another accused, Boniface Emenalo, for allegedly receiving $620,000 of the alleged bribe from Mr Otedola and his company.

The case was then handled by Adebukola Banjoko also of the same FCT High Court.

Ms Banjoko, however, stepped down from the matter in 2014, following allegations of bias brought against her by the defence.

The charge was later amended to include only Mr Lawan who was accused of receiving $500,000 of the total bribe sum.

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/308415-how-i-got-500000-i-gave-farouk-lawan-as-bribe-otedola.html

Chris Ngige, Minister of Labour and Employment, says the Nigerian government did not approve N30,000 as national minimum wage as believed.

He stated this at the public hearing on the national minimum wage bill ongoing in Abuja.

According to Ngige, the notion that the government approved N27,000 and N30,000 as the national minimum wage is a misconception.

His words: “I want to clear some misconceptions. The outcry that the government had approved two national minimum wage figures of N27,000 and N30,000 is not true. What the government approved through all the organs — the Federal Executive Council, the National Economic Council and the National Council of State — was for a figure of N27,000 for all workers in the federation of Nigeria.

“However, the Federal Government, based on the principles of ability to pay, augmented their own N27,000 without putting workers through a protracted negotiation to N30,000, which means that the lowest paid worker in the federal public service GL1 Step 1 would earn N30,000 minimum wage.”

He also noted that the government's figure would not preclude the workers from being paid higher by the employer, depending on the employer’s financial capability.

He added: “We also want to go and say that nothing prevents any employer, who is financially capable either in the public or private sector of the economy, from paying higher than the statutorily prescribed national minimum wage. As a matter of fact, as we speak, the former or well, the prevalent minimum wage now is N18,000, but some state governments, like the governments of Lagos, Edo, Rivers, Delta, Akwa Ibom, some of them are already in the rung of N25,000. Edo State pays N25,000; I’m categorically sure about that one. Therefore, what has been proposed as national minimum wage does not preclude anybody who has capacity to do better than even the Federal Government from doing so and there are many state governments that have that capacity.

“They should be allowed to negotiate with their workers and get to the threshold of N30,000 and go beyond it. Many can go beyond it; Lagos can go beyond it. So, if you even start putting them in a straitjacket, you may end up at the end of the day not making them pay what they are supposed to pay.”

http://saharareporters.com/2019/01/28/breaking-nigerian-govt-never-approved-n30000-national-minimum-wage-says-ngige

Ade Adesomoju, Abuja

The police have early Monday sealed off the office of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, who was suspended by President Muhammadu Buhari, last Friday, sources at the Supreme Court have informed The PUNCH.

In a move that appeared to stop any possibility of Onnoghen to accessing the office, policemen were said to have sealed the office and ejected all administrative staff in the axis of the CJN office asearly as 7am on Monday.

One of the sources said, “The police have sealed the office of the CJN. Officers and men of the Force went to the administrative staff offices at about 7am and ordered clerical and other staff who were already at their desks to leave after which they locked up everywhere.”

This came as the National Judicial Council has fixed Tuesday for an emergency meeting to deliberate on the sudden suspension of Onnoghen and swearing in of Justice Tanko Muhammad as the Acting CJN by President Buhari.

Details soon.

https://punchng.com/breaking-police-seal-off-cjn-onnoghens-office-eject-administrative-staff/

The National Judicial Council (NJC) has summoned an emergency meeting over the suspension of Walter Onnoghen, chief justice of Nigeria (CJN).

TheCable understands that the meeting will be held in Abuja by 10am on Monday.

The meeting was called by some NJC members in line with its rules.

A member of NJC told TheCable on Sunday that neither Onnoghen, whose suspension has become a subject of controversy, nor Ibrahim Muhammad, the acting CJN, will be allowed to preside over the meeting.

WHAT DO NJC RULES SAY?

According to the rules guiding the conduct of NJC meetings, five or more members can summon a meeting subject to a request made to the chairman.

TheCable was unable to confirm if this requirement was met.

The rules state that:

The council shall hold meetings at such times and place as the chairman may appoint.
Notwithstanding the provision of paragraph (1) of this regulation, a meeting of the council shall be convened if five or more members make a request to that effect, in writing to the chairman, specifying the business to be transacted.

Every meeting of the council shall be presided by the chairman and in his absence, by a member selected by a simple majority of members present and/or nominations in the call of expression of interest and in the request for nomination.

The quorum for a meeting shall not be less than one-third of the total number of the council members as at the date of that meeting.

A member shall be entitled to one vote and the simple majority votes shall be the decision of the council.

WHO ARE NJC MEMBERS?

According to 1999 constitution, members of the council are:

the chief justice of Nigeria who shall be the chairman

the next most senior justice of the supreme court who shall be the deputy chairman

the president of the court of appeal

five retired justices selected by the CJN from the supreme court or court of appeal

the chief judge of the federal high court;

five chief judges of states to be appointed by the CJN from among the chief judges of the states and of the high court of the FCT, Abuja

one grand kadi to be appointed by the CJN from among grand kadis of the Sharia courts of appeal to serve in rotation for two years;

one president of the customary court of appeal to be appointed by the CJN from among the Presidents of the Customary Courts of Appeal to serve in rotation for two years

five members of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) who have been qualified to practise for a period of not less than 15 years, at least one of whom shall be a SAN, appointed by the CJN on the recommendation of the national executive committee of the NBA to serve for two years and subject to re-appointment, provided that the five members shall sit in the Council only for the purposes of considering the names of persons for appointment to the superior courts of record; and
two persons not being legal practitioners, who in the opinion of the CJN, are of unquestionable integrity.

WHAT ARE THE POWERS AND DUTIES OF NJC?

The constitution says the NJC shall have power to, among other things:

recommend to the president the removal from office of the specified judicial officers and to exercise disciplinary control over such officers;

recommend to the governors the removal from the office of the judicial officers
collect, control and disburse all moneys, capital and recurrent, for the judiciary;

advise the president and governors or any matter pertaining to the judiciary as may be referred to the council by the president or the governors;

appoint, dismiss and exercise disciplinary control over members and staff of the council

WHAT IS THE STATE OF PLAY?

President Muhammadu Buhari replaced Onnoghen with Muhammad on Friday, citing an order of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).

The Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) had filed a six-count charge against the CJN based on a petition written by the Anti-Corruption and Research Based Data Initiative (ARDI), a civil society group.

In the petition dated January 7, the group, had among other things, accused Onnoghen of false assets declaration.

While administering oath of office on Muhammad, Buhari said security agencies traced millions of dollars to accounts Onnoghen.

“Although the allegations in the petition are grievous enough in themselves, the security agencies have since then traced other suspicious transactions running into millions of dollars to the CJN’s personal accounts, all undeclared or improperly declared as required by law,” he had said.

But many lawyers and civil rights activists have kicked against the president’s action, saying the NJC ought to have investigated the allegations levelled against Onnoghen.

In a statement, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) accused Buhari of usurping the powers of the NJC.

“The action of the Executive portends a slide into anarchy and complete deconstruction of the Rule of Law and due process,” read the statement signed by Paul Usoro, NBA president.

“It amounts to an absolute breach of the Constitution and the usurpation of the powers of the Senate and the Nigerian Judicial Council.”

https://www.thecable.ng/exclusive-njc-members-summon-emergency-meeting-over-onnoghen/

The All Progressives Congress (APC) caucus in the Senate at the weekend, vowed to resist any attempt by the presiding officers of the National Assembly to initiate impeachment proceedings against President Muhammadu Buhari.

The Senate is set to reconvene on Tuesday following the suspension of Walter Onnoghen as the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) and the appointment of Justice Ibrahim Muhammad as the acting CJN by President Buhari.

But the leadership of the National Assembly will be meeting today ahead of the emergency sitting.

Onnoghen is being tried by the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) over a non-declaration of some assets.

Speaking on behalf of APC senators, former Senate Leader Ali Ndume told reporters in Abuja that the President did not breach the constitution by his action.

He said, “As members of the APC in the National Assembly, we will put the nation’s interest above any parochial or sectional consideration in dealing with the issue.

“However, if anybody wants to start another trouble in the Senate over the issue, we are ready. We have the number; we have the strength because we constitute the majority.

“It’s just that the Senate leadership wants to play to the gallery, otherwise, I don’t see the same leadership that accused the judiciary of meddling in its affairs now moving against the President for fighting corruption in that arm of government.”

http://dailypost.ng/2019/01/27/onnoghen-well-resist-attempt-impeach-buhari-apc-senators/

…swears in 250 election petition tribunal Judges
… S’Court Justices boycott event, as anxiety mounts over Onnoghen’s safety

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

ABUJA – The Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Tanko Muhammad, has alluded to a plot to destabilize the Judiciary, saying it was time for Judges to stand and protect its integrity.

Justice Muhammad who performed his first official function by inaugurating Judges that will handle 2019 National Assembly, Governorship & State Assembly Election Petition Tribunals, on Saturday, said the Judiciary Arm of Government was passing through a turbulent period.

While addressing the 250 Election Petition Tribunal Judges at the ceremony that took place inside the Supreme Court, the Acting CJN, said: “As your lordships take the oath of office as Chairmen and Members of the Election Petition Tribunals, let me remind you that this oath is a solemn appeal to Almighty God.

“Therefore, it is to God Almighty that you will be ultimately responsible.

It is from this oath that your duties and responsibilities as Chairmen and Members of the Election Petition Tribunals in your various places of assignment spring forth and has a binding effect on each and everyone of you.

“This is an ethical undertaking to justice as well as to uphold the RuIe Of Law in our courts and tribunals.

“As such, I implore you to discharge this onerous duty diligently and with the fear of God Almighty.

“The judiciary is in the trying time, you must stand, I repeat you must stand to protect and uphold the integrity of this arm of government.

“If any other person is trying to destroy it, we should try to protect it.

“If we don’t protect it ourselves, no one can do it for us. Therefore it is our sacred duty to see that we protect the judiciary.

“I therefore congratulate you on this appointment and I urge you to see this assignment as a call to greater service to your nation.

“I encourage you to uphold and enhance the honour, integrity and standing of the judiciary and I pray that the Almighty Allah wiII bestow upon you strength, good health and wisdom and capabilities in the performance of your duties”.

Meanwhile, other Justices of the Supreme Court, boycotted the event that had few guests in attendance.

President Muhammadu Buhari had in an unprecedented move on Friday evening, suspended the substantive CJN, Justice Walter Onnoghen, even as he swore in Justice Muhammad to take over the leadership of the Nigerian Judiciary.

President Buhari premised his action on an ex-parte order from the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, in Abuja, where the suspended CJN is facing charges the Federal Government entered against him for allegedly failing to declare his assets as prescribed by the law.

Specifically, the CCT order read: “It is hereby ordered as follows: That the defendant/respondent shall step aside as the Chief Justice of Nigeria and Chairman National Judicial Council over allegation of Contravening the provisions of the code of Conducts and Tribunal Act CAP C15 Laws of the Federation 2004 pending the determination of the Motion on notice dated 10th January 2019.

“That the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria shall take all necessary measure to swear in the most senior Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria as Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria and Chairman National Judicial Council in order to prevent a vacuum in the judicial arm of government pending the determination of the motion on notice”.

Meanwhile, anxiety has continued to mount over whereabouts of the suspended CJN, as stern looking armed security operatives from both the Nigerian Police and the Department of State Service, DSS, cordoned off his premises situated within the Three Arm Zone of the Federal Capital Territory.

The security operatives barred journalists and other well wishers from having access to the area.

Every attempt to reach the Senior Special Assistant to the CJN on Media, Mr. Awassam Bassey, proved abortive, as all his mobile telephone lines were switched off.

Action of the security agents has further fuelled insinuation that the embattled CJN who had earlier announced his plan to inaugurate the election petition tribunal judges, could have been placed under house arrest.


https://www.vanguardngr.com/2019/01/ag-cjn-muhammad-alleges-plot-to-destroy-judiciary-seeks-support/

Until Saturday, January 11, 2019, not many Nigerians would have heard of the name Anti-Corruption And Research-Based Data Initiative (ARDI).

It was on that day that the news broke of the petition filed by the civil rights group against the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN),Justice Walter Onnoghen, at the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) alleging that he owns ” sundry accounts primarily funded through cash deposits made by himself up to as recently as 10th August 2016, which appear to have been run in a manner inconsistent with financial transparency and the code of conduct for public officials.”

It said Onnoghen did not declare the accounts as required by law.

That petition is now threatening to consume Onnoghen, who was sent on suspension yesterday by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The ARDI petition, dated January 7, 2019, was received two days later by the CCB, according to online publication, TheCable, which broke the news.

Things moved in quick succession with the Federal Government filing a six-count charge against him for alleged failure to declare some of his assets, including about $3million.

The $3million is said to be lodged in five accounts.

The domiciliary and Naira accounts in the Standard Chartered Bank are coded as USD account No. 870001062650; Euro account No. 93001062686; Pound Sterling A/CNo. 285001062679; e-Saver Savings (Naira) account No. 5001062693; and a Naira A/C No. 010001062667.

The charge sheet is dated January 10 and was filed on January 11.

A CCB investigator, Mr. James Akpala, said in an affidavit in support of the charges against Onnoghen, that the filing of the case stemmed from a petition against the CJN.

Akpala was silent on the name of the petitioners.

He merely said: “I know as a fact that the Head Office of the Bureau received a petition alleging that the CJN failed to declare his assets according to the law.”

ARDI describes itself as “a whistleblower and an Anti-Corruption Awareness disseminator, whose effort is to strengthen our democracy and ensure transparent, accountable and responsive governance devoid of corruption for our society.”

The civil society group said its petition was necessitated by “the imminence of the 2019 General Elections and the overwhelming roles of the Judicial Arm both before and after.”

It claimed that Onnoghen owns “sundry accounts primarily funded through cash deposits made by himself up to as recently as 10th August 2016, which appear to have been run in a manner inconsistent with financial transparency and the code of conduct for public officials.”

It alleged that Onnoghen made five cash deposits of $10,000 each on March 8, 2011 into Standard Chartered Bank Account 1062650; two separate cash deposits of $5000 each and four deposits of $10,000 each on June 7, 2011.

Five similar cash deposits of $10,000 followed on June 27, 2011, and another four deposits of $10,000 each the following day.

Onnoghen, according to the petition, failed to declare his assets immediately after taking office, contrary to section 15 (1) of Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act; and that he did not comply with the constitutional requirement for public servants to declare their assets every four years during their career.

It added that the CJN appeared “to have suppressed or otherwise concealed the existence of these multiple domiciliary accounts owned by him, as well as the substantial cash balances in them.”

It said the CJN’s financial transactions appeared suspicious and not justifiable by his lawful remuneration at all material times.

Detectives investigating the finances of the suspended CJN last weekend turned their attention to his salary account.

Sources said they may have unearthed evidence that the salary account laid untouched in the bank for 18 months at a stretch.

http://thenationonlineng.net/onnoghens-trouble-started-2/

President Muhammadu Buhari, on Friday, suspended Walter Onnoghen, the chief justice of the federation.

This is coming two weeks after TheCable first reported that a civil society group, Anti-Corruption and Research Based Data Initiative (ARDI), has launched a legal move to remove the CJN.

The president delivered a speech to justify the suspension on Friday at the swearing-in ceremony of Justice Ibrahim Tanko Mohammed acting CJN, saying the order came from the Code of Conduct Tribunal.

Here are highlights of the president’s speech:

Onnoghen admitted to the charges

In his speech, the president expressed worry that Onnoghen admitted to the charges levelled against him.

“Perhaps more worrisome is the Chief Justice of Nigeria’s own written admission to the charges that he indeed failed to follow the spirit and letter of the law in declaring his assets, citing ’’mistake’’ and ’’forgetfulness’’ which are totally unknown to our laws as defences in the circumstances of his case,” he said.

Other suspicious transactions have been discovered

“Although the allegations in the petition are grievous enough in themselves, the security agencies have since then traced other suspicious transactions running into millions of dollars to the CJN’s personal accounts, all undeclared or improperly declared as required by law.”

His legal team frustrated the CCT trial

Buhari said Onnoghen should have removed “himself from superintending over” the judicial arm while the trial lasted but instead, “the nation has been treated to the sordid spectacle of a judicial game of wits in which the Chief Justice of Nigeria and his legal team have made nonsense of the efforts of the Code of Conduct Tribunal to hear the allegation on merit and conclude the trial as quickly as possible”

The Supreme Court has been releasing people accused of corruption

Buhari said: “It is no secret that this government is dissatisfied with the alarming rate in which the Supreme Court of Nigeria under the oversight of Justice Walter Onnoghen has serially set free, persons accused of the most dire acts of corruption, often on mere technicalities, and after quite a number of them have been convicted by the trial and appellate courts.”

He influenced the court

“Whether deliberately or inadvertently, we have all seen the full weight of the Chief Justice of Nigeria descend on the tender head of one of the organs of justice under his control. There is simply no way the officers of that court, from the Chairman to the bailiffs, can pretend to be unaffected by the influence of the leader of the Judiciary.”

https://www.thecable.ng/admitted-charges-supreme-court-set-corrupt-people-free-five-things-buhari-onnoghen/

The National Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has dismissed the expulsion of Hope Uzodinma, its governorship candidate in Imo State, by the state chapter of the party.

Earlier on Thursday, the Imo APC had announced Uzodinma's expulsion for supporting the candidate of another party, as well as engaging in anti-party activities.

However, a statement by Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, the APC National Publicity Secretary, on Thursday evening, referred to Uzodinma's expulsion as "null and void".

The statement read: "The attention of the National Working Committee (NWC) of our great party APC, has been drawn to the purported expulsion of our governorship candidate in Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodinma, through a statement signed by the former chairman of the party in Imo State, Mr Dan Nwafor.

"We want to state categorically that the former Imo State Working Committee of the APC led by Mr Nwafor was dissolved after majority of members of our party in Imo State lost confidence in their ability to lead the party to victory in the forthcoming general elections, especially due to their involvement in several anti party activities.

"Consequently, the NWC had since set up a Caretaker Committee in Imo State led by Chief Marcelinus Nlemigbo to pilot the affairs of the party in Imo State. Therefore, Mr. Nlemigbo remains the only recognised Imo State Chairman and any decision which do not emanate from this recognised Caretaker Committee as regards the affairs of the APC in Imo State is null and void."

The party also reaffirmed its position on not tolerating indiscipline on the part of members and urged them to remain steadfast in their support.

The statement continued: "We call on our teeming supporters in Imo State to remain steadfast and disregard such reports as it does not have the blessings of the NWC.

"The NWC is paying keen attention to events as they unfold in Imo State and the party would always take appropriate measures to protect the interests of the party.

"Let it be stated clearly that APC would not tolerate indiscipline from any member of the party under any guise.

http://saharareporters.com/2019/01/24/breaking-he-remains-our-party-—-apc-nwc-disowns-hope-uzodinmas-expulsion