₦airaland Forum

The furore over who will fly the flag for the 2019 governorship election for the All Progressives Congressb (APC) in Imo state might have been put to rest following the submission of the name of Senator Hope Uzodinma as the governorship candidate of the party for the election.

Already the news is creating tension in the state.


Impeccable source close to the party in the state confided in Daily Trust that the party accepted the results of the Ahmed Ahmed Gulak committee, which declared Uzodinma winner of the October 1 primaries in preference to October 6 rescheduled election held by the Ibrahim Agbabiaka panel that declared Uche Nwosu as winner.

When our correspondent visited the state office of the Independent National Electoral Commission yesterday, a source said the list was yet to be made public.

Meanwhile the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in the Abuja Judicial Division yesterday ordered the All Progressives Congress (APC) to show cause why it should not be committed to contempt for violating its earlier ruling not to submit any other name other than that of Uche Nwosu as the governorship candidate of the party for the 2019 election in Imo state.

The incumbent governor of the state and Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, Rochas Okorocha backed his son-in-law and his former Chief of Staff, Ugwumba Uche Nwosu for the ticket

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/breaking-okorocha-loses-as-uzodinma-gets-imo-apc-guber.html

After three years of legal battle over a legislative seat in the Benue state house of assembly, the court of appeal on Friday ordered the removal of Benjamin Nungwa, a member of the house.

The court ruled that Joseph Boko, who was declared winner of the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election in 2015, is the real occupant of the seat.

Dissatisfied with the conduct of the primary, Nungwa sent a petition to the APC national secretariat for arbitration.

An arbitration panel was set up by the national working committee (NWC) of the party to resolve the disputed primary election. The NWC’s judgement favoured Nungwa.

Subsequently, Boko filed a suit at the federal high court in the state against Nungwa, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and the APC, claiming that the panel never invited him to its sittings.

He, therefore, prayed the court to declare that the panel was not competent to sit since it was not properly constituted.

He argued that he was properly nominated as the party’s candidate for the election and prayed the court to order Nungwa to relinquish the seat he was occupying to him.

He noted that his name was illegally substituted with that of Nungwa, weeks after the deadline for substitution of candidates names at INEC.

However, Binta Nyako, the judge, affirmed Nungwa as the APC’s candidate and cited the decision of the NWC as the basis.

Following the ruling, Boko approached the supreme court, which after hearing the matter, expunged all cross-appeals and motions that were unnecessary to the case and transmitted it back to the appeal court with a directive for a speedy retrial on merit.

In a unanimous judgement read by Joseph Ekanem, presiding judge, the court overturned the judgment of the federal high court which affirmed Nungwa as the winner of the legislative seat.

The court, therefore, ordered the immediate sack of Nungwa, who it described as “an illegal occupant of the Kwande-west legislative seat’’.

Nungwa was ordered to refund all salaries and allowances earned within the three years he occupied the seat in the house and granted N200,000 costs to the appellant.

The court resolved that the arbitration panel set up by the NWC was not competent to handle the crises, saying it was not properly constituted.

Commenting on the court’s verdict, Boko said he was grateful to God and the judiciary for being “the last hope of the ordinary man”.

https://www.thecable.ng/court-sacks-benue-lawmaker-orders-refund-of-salaries-allowances/

President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday met behind closed doors with Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Even though Okorocha’s purpose of visiting the Villa is still unknown, it is believed that the meeting may discuss the crisis around the Imo State All Progressives Congress (APC), governorship candidate ticket.

The ticket is being contested by Senator Hope Uzodimma and the governor’s son-in-law, Uche Nwosu.

Details Later…

http://thenationonlineng.net/buhari-okorocha-meet-aso-rock/

President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday expressed dismay that Nigeria’s “infrastructure went to rot completely between 1999 and 2014” in spite of the huge resources at the disposal of the country at the time.

Buhari stated this when he received the outgoing British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Paul Arkwright, in a farewell audience at the State House, Abuja.


He maintained that his administration was doing a lot more in the area of infrastructural development across the country with insufficient resources at its disposal.

“Our focus now is on infrastructure – roads, railway, power, and others. How I wish we had fixed all those when we had money.

“What we earned between 1999 and 2014 is on record, but nothing was done to infrastructure. Now, we are doing a lot more, with a lot less resources. And we shall continue to do our best,’’ he said.

He commended the outgoing High Commissioner for his warm and pleasant disposition, saying that it had seen him traverse almost the entire country.

“I always see you all over the place,” the President noted.

Arkwright, who spent more than three years in Nigeria, said he visited 30 of the 36 states of the federation, and found the people quite enterprising and engaging.

According to him, the British government will be glad to offer a helping hand as required in any part of the country.

He expressed gratitude to Buhari for his support, saying that the relations between the two countries had improved tremendously over the past three years.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/10/president-buhari-frowns-at-infrastructural-deficiency-during-pdps-era/

President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday received the Governor General Of Canada, Julie Payette.

Ms Payette was received at the courtyard of the Presidential Villa in Abuja, alongside officials in her entourage.

She is scheduled to address journalists after the meeting with President Buhari.

Thereafter, she will deliver a lecture at the National Space Research and Development Centre Agency.

The Governor General of Canada is the Federal Vice-Regal representative of the Canadian, that is Queen Elizabeth the second of England.

https://www.channelstv.com/2018/10/29/buhari-receives-governor-general-of-canada/

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Saturday visited the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji, at his palace in Ibadan.

Professor Osinbajo was accompanied to the traditional ruler’s palace by the Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi, as well as top government officials in the state.

He paid homage to the Olubadan as part of activities lined up for his visit to the state.

Earlier, the Vice President told a gathering of youths at the University of Ibadan to be vigilant and take their leaders into account.

He also called on Nigerians to pay more attention to how the nation’s resources are being managed.

See photos of Osinbajo’s visit to Olubadan’s palace below;

The Nigerian Army on Tuesday commenced Operation Crocodile Smile III on Bakassi Local Government Areas of Cross River State.

The operation, which was flagged off by the state Governor, Ben Ayade was aimed at checkmating cases of kidnapping, militancy and armed robbery in the area.

Speaking during the flag off, Ayade said the flag off would also help to maintain “peace and orderliness during the annual Calabar festival and the 2019 polls.”

Ayade stated that the exercise will reduce the proliferation of arms through the Cameroon border at Ikang in Bakassi.

The Governor commended the Nigerian Army for remaining disciplined and “very professional in the discharge of their constitutional duties.”

He also called on all security agencies to work in harmony with a view to bringing the security challenges across the country under control.

Ayade further warned politicians to desist from moving arms and sponsoring violence in the state.

According to Ayade, “As the 2019 general elections draw closer, I want to use this opportunity to warn politicians to desist from moving arms and sponsoring violence at polling units.

“As the Chief Security Officer of the state, I will work with security agencies to ensure that anyone caught is prosecuted.”

http://dailypost.ng/2018/10/23/nigerian-army-begins-operation-crocodile-smile-iii-cross-river/

Ibikunle Amosun, governor of Ogun state, has accused the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) of hijacking the party’s governorship primary election in the state.

Speaking while swearing in Mosunmola Dipeolu, chief judge of the state, at government house, Abeokuta, the state capital, on Monday, Amosun wondered why Bola Tinubu, a national leader of the ruling party, and Olusegun Osoba, a former governor of the state, were silent on the controversy which trailed the exercise.

Although Amosun did not mention Tinubu’s name, the context in which he spoke showed he was referring to the APC national leader.

He also accused the APC leadership of forging results of the primary election in Lagos.

Amosun said even President Muhammadu Buhari is aware that primary election was not conducted in the state “other than the one we held”.

“He (the president) knows that they just went to Lagos, write all results, and that what they did is fraud. If the national working committee or the national chairman said there was any election in Ogun state, it was all fraud,” Amosun said.

“The issue of Chief Osoba and Asiwaju and co, what we said was that there was a deafening silence from their end, and silence means consent. We have not heard a word from any of them. Was there any election in Ogun state? Yes or No? They should come out and speak… they are hiding behind one finger, they cannot come out.”

The governor had said he was under pressure to leave the party following the outcome of the primary election.

The party’s national working committee had cleared Dapo Abiodun as winner of the primary against the wish of Amosun whose candidate is Abiodun Akinlade.

https://www.thecable.ng/this-silence-shows-you-gave-consent-to-fraudulent-primaries-in-ogun-amosun-blasts-tinubu-osoba/

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri
ABUJA – The Supreme Court, on Monday, set-aside an interim order of the Court of Appeal in Port Harcourt, which gave the All Progressives Congress, APC, the nod to conduct its Ward, Local Government and State Congresses in Rivers State.

The apex court, in a judgment that was delivered by Justice Centus Nweze, faulted the appellate court for issuing an order for the stay of execution of a Rivers State High Court order that barred the APC from going ahead with its planned congress, pending the determination of a suit before it.

It noted that the high court had on the basis of a suit that was lodged by one Abdulahi Umar and 22 others, issued injunctive reliefs that expressesly forbade the APC from conducting congress in the state.

According to the Supreme Court, Justice Chiwendu Nwogu of the high court gave the interim order of injunction on May 11, on a day that some hoodlums loyal to a faction of the APC, besieged the high court premises in Port Harcourt.

It observed that despite the attack and the restraining order from the high court, which was further reaffirmed on May 13, the APC which was a Respondent in the matter, went ahead and conducted its Ward, Local Government and State congresses on May 19, 20 and 21.

The apex court said it was baffled that the APC, “in the most impundent manner”, ran to the Court of Appeal to apply for stay of proceeding and execution of the high court order with respect to the suit marked PHC/78/2018.

It observed that while the appellate court declined to stay proceedings of the high court, it however stayed the execution of the May 11 order by Justice Nwogu.

Dissatisfied with the decision, Umar and 22 other litigants who dragged APC to court over their alleged exclusion from the primaries, took the case to the Supreme Court.

They argued through their lawyer, Mr. Henry Bello, that the Court of Appeal engaged in judicial rascality by refusing to abide by Supreme Court decisions on the issue of stay of execution of valid court orders.

The appellants told the apex court that the Port Harcourt Division of the Court of Appeal violated the principle of staris-decisis (judicial precedents) and accorded favourable ruling to the APC, even when it was “in grave disobedience to two orders of the lower court”.

They prayed the apex court to set aside the order the Court of Appeal in respect of the case marked CA/PH/198/2018.

Meantime, while acceding to the Appellants’ prayer, the Supreme Court, held that the appellate court should not to have vacated the injunctive order the Rivers state high court issued against the APC on the conduct of its congresses.

Justice Nweze held that the action of the appellate court amounted to “sacrilegious exercise of judicial discretion”, saying it committed “gross insurbodination”, by refusing to abide by precedents already set by the Supreme Court.

He said the appellate court was wrong when it judicially indulged the APC, even in the face of abundant evidence that the Party was in contempt of subsisting court orders.

“It is a very serious matter for any one to flout a positive order of a court and still approach the court for remedy.

“It is unfortunate and wrongful for the Court of Appeal to have entertained a party in contempt of a valid court order to the extent of granting judicial favour by way of staying of execution of an injunctive order when the party at the center of the dispute was in gross contempt of court”, Justice Nweze held.

Stressing that the Respondent acted “in the most impundent manner”, the Supreme Court held: “The simple truth therefore is that when the Respondent applied for stay of execution, it was in gross abuse of a court order”.

“The court guides its power jealously. Regrettably, the lower court condoled the Respondent’s conduct”.

The Supreme Court therefore granted “an order setting aside the stay of execution order that the Court of Appeal granted to the APC on June 21.

“This appeal is allowed and the ruling of June 21 is hereby set-aside. That shall be the judgment of this court”, Justice Nweze held.

While concurring with the lead verdict, another member of the apex court panel, Justice Inyang Okoro, held that APC’s disobedience to the high court’s order made it ineligible for favourable judicial discretion from the appellate court.

It will be recalled that the Rivers State High Court had in a ruling on May 30, nullified the Ward, Local Government and State congresses of the APC held on May 19, 20 and 21 respectively.

Justice Chiwendu Nwogu maintained that the process that led to the emergence of Ojukaye Flag-Amachree as Rivers Chairman of APC, was fraudulent.

He ordered the party to return to the status quo of May 11, pending the determination of the substantive suit.

Subsequently, the court, on October 10, voided the nomination of Mr Tonye Cole as the gubernatorial flag-bearer of the APC in Rivers State.

Justice Nwogu declared that Ward congresses of APC in Rivers State were illegal, sayin they were not conducted in line with the Party’s guidelines and constitution.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/10/breaking-s-court-nullifies-order-permitting-apc-to-conduct-primaries-in-rivers/

A former minister of Works, Adeseye Ogunlewe, on Monday assured the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, that the South-West will work towards his emergence as the next president of Nigeria come 2019.

Ogunlewe, a chieftain of the PDP, stated this while commending the former Vice President for promising to give the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, to the South-West geo-political zone if elected President.

Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, the former minister said PDP leaders in the South-West were satisfied with Atiku’s promise to pick an SGF from the region.


He said, “We thank our presidential candidate for the promised SGF slot. We are very satisfied with it and we are happy about it.

“You see, the office of the SGF is not just another office. It is the fulcrum of any government; it is the engine room. So, for our candidate to have promised the region the office, it means he holds us in high esteem.

“The promise is a just and fair move, we are impressed and we are pledging our total support to Atiku Abubakar to emerge as our president next year.”

http://dailypost.ng/2018/10/22/atiku-vs-buhari-yoruba-will-former-vice-president-2019-ex-minister-ogunlewe/

By Nwafor Sunday

President Muhammadu Buhari’s social media aide, Mrs. Lauretta Onochie, Saturday warned Nigerians to desist from posting and sharing images, articles and stories that could heat up the polity, using their computer sets.

Disclosing this via her official facebook handle, Onochie advised Nigerians to be careful of what they share, noting that the use of fake accounts to forward or receive messages will not shield the offender from going to jail.

Her words:

CYBERCRIMES (PROHIBITION, PREVENTION, ETC.) ACT, 2015

PROTECT YOURSELF.

Don’t go to jail.

USING FAKE ACCOUNTS OR “FORWARDED AS RECEIVED”, WON’T SHIELD YOU.

Read carefully and be careful of what you share!

*Here are some of the provisions to keep in mind.*

Section (24)

(1) Any person who knowingly or intentionally sends a message or other matter by means of computer systems or network that –

(a) is grossly offensive, pornographic or of an indecent, obscene or menacing character or causes any such message or matter to be so sent; or

(b) he knows to be false, for the purpose of causing annoyance, inconvenience, danger, obstruction, insult, injury, criminal intimidation, enmity, hatred, ill will or needless anxiety to another or causes such a message to be sent: commits an offence under this Act and shall be liable on conviction to a fine of not more than N7,000,000.00 or imprisonment for a term of not more than 3 years or to both such fine and imprisonment.

(2) Any person who knowingly or intentionally transmits or causes the transmission of any communication through a computer system or network –

(a) to bully, threaten or harass another person, where such communication places another person in fear of death, violence or bodily harm or to another person containing any threat to kidnap any person or any threat to harm the person of another, any demand or request for a ransom for the release of any kidnapped person, to extort from any person, firm, association or corporation, any money or other thing of value; or

(c) containing any threat to harm the property or reputation of the addressee or of another or the reputation of a deceased person or any threat to accuse the addressee or any other person of a crime, to extort from any person, firm, association, or corporation, any money or other thing of value: commits an offence under this Act and shall be liable on conviction –

(i) in the case of paragraphs (a) and (b) of this subsection to imprisonment for a term

of 10 years and/or a minimum fine of N25,000,000.00; and

(ii) in the case of paragraphs (c) and (d) of this subsection, to imprisonment for a term of 5 years and/or a minimum fine of N15,000,000.00.

(1) Any person who with intent –
(a) distributes or otherwise makes available, any racist or xenophobic material to the public through a computer system or network;

(b) threatens through a computer system or network –

(i) persons for the reason that they belong to a group distinguished by race, colour, descent, national or ethnic origin, as well as, religion, if used as a pretext for any of these factors; or

(ii) a group of persons which is distinguished by any of these characteristics;

(c) insults publicly through a computer system or network –

(i) persons for the reason that they belong to a group distinguished by race, colour, descent or national or ethnic origin, as well as religion, if used as a pretext for any of these factors; or

(ii) a group of persons which is distinguished by any of these characteristics; or

(d) distributes or otherwise makes available, through a computer system or network,

to the public, material which denies or approves or justifies acts constituting genocide or crimes against humanity -commits an offence and shall be on conviction to imprisonment for a term of not more than 5 years or to a fine of not more thanN10,000,000.00 or both such fine and imprisonment

2) For the purpose of subsection (1) of this section, the term –

“Genocide” means any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial or religious group as such: killing members of the group, deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part; imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group; forcibly transferring children of the group to another group.

“Racist or Xenophobic material” means any written or printed material, any image or any other representation of ideas or theories, which advocates, promotes or incites hatred, discrimination or violence, against any individual group of individuals, based on race, color, descent or national or ethnic origin, as well as religion if used as a pretext for any of these factors.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/10/be-careful-not-to-go-to-jail-lauretta-onochie-warns-nigerians/

The All Progressives Congress (APC) says it has welcomed the “entire chapter and ward exco” of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Obot Akara Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State into its fold.

Making an announcement on Twitter, the party said the defectors were received to their new party by Abom Tony Esu, Director-General of the campaign organisation of Nsima Ekere, the governorship candidate of the party in the 2019 election.

“The entire Chapter & Ward Exco of the PDP in Obot Akara LGA in Akwa Ibom State have decamped to the APC alongside thousands of their members. They were received into the APC by the DG of Nsima Ekere 2019 Governorship Campaign, Abom Tony Esu, on October 17, 2018,” it said.

The political terrain in Akwa-Ibom has seen some mini-defections since Godswil Akpabio, a two-time former Governor of the state, crossed from the PDP to APC.

http://saharareporters.com/2018/10/18/breaking-%E2%80%98entire-pdp-ward%E2%80%99-akwa-ibom-defects-apc

In the course of investigating corruption allegations against ex- governor of Ekiti State Mr Ayodele Fayose, especially the N1.3billion which he collected from the office of the National Security Adviser, Col Sambo Dasuki, the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC has released photos of property they alleged he acquired wrongly.


https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/10/efcc-releases-pictures-of-property-wrongly-acquired-by-fayose/

The debt profile of Ekiti state which was N117 billion at the beginning of the year has risen to N120 billion.

According to a document forwarded to the debt management office by the outgoing state government, the state incurred additional debt of N3 billion between March and June this year.

In September, Kayode Fayemi, governor-elect of Ekiti state, had raised an alarm over N99 billion debt incurred by the administration of Ayodele Fayose.

The DMO had said the debt profile of the state, going by available records then, had increased from N18 billion during Fayemi’s era to N117 billion, under Fayose’s watch.

But Fayose had denied the claim, saying the debt of Ekiti is pegged at N59.5 billion and that it was incurred by Fayemi’s government.

However, in the document forwarded to the DMO Office which was seen by TheCable, the state’s debt profile rose from N117 billion to N120 billion within three months.

The components of the debt, according to the document, shows commercial bank loans pegged at N2 billion, federal government and state bond of N18.2 billion and N3.5 billion respectively as well as budget support facility of N16.9 billion.

There are also a salary bail out of N9 billion, excess crude account of N9.5 billion, commercial agriculture loan of N163.4 million, contractors arrears of N2 billion pension and gratuity arrears of N22.2 billion.

Others are salary arrears of N8.3 billion and judgement debt of N95 million.

Fayose secured the approval of N10 billion supplementary budget from the state house of assembly, a month to his handover billed on October 16.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has invited him to its head office in Abuja.

https://www.thecable.ng/ekiti-debt-profile-hits-n120bn-as-fayose-bows-out/amp

President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday ordered a travel ban on 50 high-profile Nigerians to stop them from selling off assets acquired with stolen funds, the presidency has said.
The individuals, whose identities were not disclosed were banned from travelling abroad.
Those banned include those whose assets, valued at N50million and above, are subject of corruption investigation and litigation.
His spokesperson, Garba Shehu, in an email response to questions by state house correspondents on Sunday said “the very essence of the order is to make for speedy trials and conclusion of graft cases”.
Mr Shehu said the order, known as Executive Order 6, is the first of its kind in Nigeria in the fight against corruption.
Nigeria’s major opposition party, the PDP and its presidential candidate for the 2019 election, Atiku Abubakar have both described the order as a “return to fascism” and a repeat of “evil Decree 2”.
Mr Buhari as Head of State in 1984 promulgated Decree 2, which allows for indefinite, incommunicado detention of Nigerian citizens.
However, Mr Shehu said the government simply drew up the list of 50 Nigerians from ongoing corruption cases.
He said the order is not political and that “there is no political gain behind its activation.”
“These high profile cases we are talking about have been ongoing for between 7 to 10 years with no end in sight. These case were mostly originated by administrations other than this one.
“What is clear is that the access to these resources by the suspects has enabled them to be in a position to sometime compromise investigation, prosecution and trial.
“In most of the cases, the courts are held in a helpless position by legal acrobatics paid for from corrupt enrichment by the suspects,” he said.
Mr Shehu said the new measures put in place would now compel everyone involved to make for a speedy conclusion of these cases.
“If it is your money, you have it back. If it belongs to the public, it goes back to the treasury,” he said.
The presidential aide also said the question of the constitutionality of the restriction order is already answered by a court of the land which has given the government a clean sheet.
“The Executive Order is legal and constitutional and therefore implementable.
“One of the cardinal objectives of the government under our constitution is to fight corruption. Fighting corruption is a responsibility and obligation upon the government,” he said.
Mr Shehu also denied reports of the release of the list.
“I want to confirm to you that we have not issued any list and we are not doing so.
These cases are well known and to say this or that name is on it, will open the door to further accusations, including trial by media.
“The Immìgration Service and other security agencies have the mandate of the President to carry out enforcement and they will do so, giving due respects to individual rights, in line with the constitution,” Mr Shehu said.

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/290456-why-buhari-banned-50-high-profile-nigerians-from-travelling-presidency.html

SUNDAY ABORISADE, IHUOMA CHIEDOZIE and THEOPHILUS ONOJEGHEN

The three most influential socio-political groups in the southern part of Nigeria – Afenifere, Ohanaeze N’digbo and the Pan Niger Delta Forum – have indicated their resolve to mobilise support for the presidential candidate of any political party that is ready to restructure Nigeria.

The groups, in separate interviews with SUNDAY PUNCH, also said they would make their support for the candidate of their choice public as soon as the Independent National Electoral Commission lifts the ban on campaign activities.

Afenifere, who spoke through its spokesperson, Yinka Odumakin, told one of our correspondents that the country could not develop unless it was restructured.

The group lamented that all efforts to engage the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration on the need to restructure the country since 2015 had been futile.

Asked whether any political party had so far demonstrated commitment to the restructuring agenda, Odumakin said the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, had been consistent in that regard

He said, “Atiku has been very strong on restructuring and he has also picked a running mate (Peter Obi) who has also expressed very strong opinion about the issue of restructuring. Obi is from a zone where the people are clamouring for restructuring.

“We have reached out to the Presidency through some of the governors who are close to him (Buhari) from the South-West.


We drafted a list of leaders across Nigeria that the President should summon across Nigeria to discuss the issue of restructuring. Many months after, the governors did not get across to us probably because they met a brick wall.

“There is a consensus among leaders of the South-West, South-East, South-South, the Middle Belt and Arewa. We have said we will wait for the consensus candidate that would be produced by the CUPP to enable us to make our choice among the candidates.”

In a similar vein, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the apex socio-political body of the Igbo, also said it would vote for any presidential candidate who showed a “sincere” intention to restructure Nigeria on assuming office.

The Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the group, Mr. Chuks Ibegbu, who spoke with SUNDAY PUNCH in Enugu, said the body planned to meet the candidates ahead of the elections.

The Ohanaeze spokesman added that besides restructuring, a presidential candidate who is ready to address the age-long marginalisation of the Igbo, would enjoy the backing of the pan-Igbo association.

Ibegbu stated that the Igbo were also interested in a presidential candidate who would implement the recommendations of the 2014 national conference.

He said, “Ohanaeze is not a political party but we are going to support and identify with anyone that will restructure Nigeria. Any of the presidential candidates that is genuinely and sincerely ready to restructure Nigeria will have our votes.

“Besides restructuring, there are other demands. Our youths are agitating for Biafra and that is due to the marginalisation of the Igbos over the years. We are politically, economically and infrastructurally marginalised and we want these issues addressed effectively.”

Also, the Pan Niger Delta Forum said it would support any presidential candidate who showed strong commitment to the restructuring of the country ahead of the 2019 general elections.

PANDEF, an umbrella body for elders and leaders of the various ethnic nationalities in the Niger Delta region, maintained that its position on restructuring of the country had not changed.

Speaking with SUNDAY PUNCH, the National Secretary of the group, Dr. Alfred Mulade, noted that topmost on the reasons the region would support any of the presidential candidates would be his commitment to restructuring.

Mulade disclosed that PANDEF, after due consultations with leaders and people of the region, would publicly endorse one of the candidates contesting the nation’s number one seat in 2019.

He said, “PANDEF met with 16 presidential aspirants before the parties concluded their primaries. What we put on the table is that we will support any candidate that has restructuring as the backbone of his administration.”


The PANDEF secretary added that such candidate must also agree that restructuring would be carried out within a specific timeline.

The ACF Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Muhammad Biu, who asked one of our correspondents to see him in the office on Friday for an interview on the issue, called to inform the reporter that he was on his way to Katsina State.

He demanded that the questions be sent to him which was done. He had yet to respond as of the time of filing this report.


https://punchng.com/were-backing-candidate-wholl-restructure-nigeria-afenifere-ohanaeze-pandef/

Femi Fani-Kayode has said he would not feel the adverse impact of the travel ban imposed on some Nigerians by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The ban was announced on Sunday, amidst raging controversy over whether the president has the powers to issue such order. The administration did not say it procured court order before implementing the ban.

The government said 50 politically exposed persons were affected by the ban, but did not name them.
Mr Fani-Kayode, a former aviation minister and strong critic of the Buhari administration, said the ban would not affect him because he has not been outside the country for the past 10 years, but pities only those who have medical challenges to treat abroad.

“I have not left Nigeria since 2008 because my passport has been with the EFCC and the courts for the last 10 years and they have refused to give it to me and allow me to travel,” Mr Fani-Kayode said in an email statement sent to PREMIUM TIMES. “Those on the travel-ban list that need to travel abroad for medical attention or to see their loved ones are the ones I feel sorry for.”

The former minister, who left office in 2007 after serving President Olusegun Obasanjo in several capacities, has spent the last decade fighting corruption charges brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. He was discharged and acquitted on the initial set of corruption charges in 2015, after several years of litigation.

The EFCC, however, filed new charges of graft against him, bordering largely on claims that he mismanaged campaign finance funds during the failed reelection bid of President Goodluck Jonathan. He dismissed the charges as a vindictive ploy to silence him for his fierce stance against Mr Buhari’s government, a claim the administration denied.

More importantly, Mr Fani-Kayode said he remained indifferent to the travel ban because he has to remain in Nigeria to help liberate the citizens from Mr Buhari’s ruthless and divisive government.

“For me, travel ban or no travel ban, I have no intention of leaving Nigeria anytime soon because I am one of those that will be on the forefront in the struggle to liberate our country and ensure that we get Buhari out of power in the next few months,” he said. “By God’s grace in February we will flush him and his incompetent, fascistic, mendacious, divisive, corrupt, abusive, vicious and genocidal government down the toilet and send them back to hell where they belong.”

Garba Shehu, a presidential spokesperson, announced imposition of the ban on Saturday, saying it followed a court ruling affirming the constitutionality of an executive order the president issued in July. But while the presiding judge, Ijeoma Ojukwu, validated the core principles of the executive order — preventing suspicious assets from being eroded — she warned the administration against implementing it without a court order.

The move has been widely criticised by opposition and non-partisan groups alike, with all of them charging that the president’s action could pose a grim danger to fundamental rights of citizens.


https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/290356-travel-ban-im-not-bothered-fani-kayode-says.html

The police command in Sokoto has confirmed the death of one person as a result of stray bullets fired when suspected hoodlums attacked governor Aminu Tambuwal’s motorcade on Saturday.

Cordelia Nwawe, the command’s spokesperson, said one other person who was injured during the incident had been hospitalised.

NAN reports that the PDP had organised a reception rally to welcome Tambuwal after his failed attempt to secure the 2019 presidential ticket of the party.

The governor was received by a crowd of supporters at the Sultan Abubakar III International Airport, Sokoto and went in a motorcade to the government house.

The event was, however, not-hitch free as political thugs armed with dangerous weapons destroyed billboards, building structures and vehicles bearing inscriptions of the opposition party.

A car bearing the APC logo travelling to Sokoto from Bodinga was also set ablaze by mobs along the Sokoto State University.

The motorcade was then forced to stop along Gawon Nama, near the resident of senator Aliyu Wamakko, when another set of mobs carrying arms confronted it.

It took the efforts of security operatives to get it moving again.

A relative of the deceased who pleaded anonymity told NAN that the deceased, Imran Ahmad-Alkanci, was on his way home after visiting family relations when the incident happened.

The source said the 22-year-old was trying to get a commercial motorcycle when the bullet hit him.


https://www.thecable.ng/one-killed-as-thugs-attack-tambuwals-convoy-in-sokoto/

The People Democratic Party (PDP), Anambra chapter has described the choice of Chief Peter Obi as the running mate to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar as a great honour to one of its founding father, late Dr Alex Ekwueme.

Chief Ndubuisi Nwobu, Chairman of PDP in Anambra said this while reacting to the announcement of Obi as Atiku’s running mate in an interview in Awka.

Nwobu said the nomination was a ’round peg in a round hole’ as Obi possessed all the requisite quality to occupy the position having been a successful governor and a seasoned technocrat.

He said the state chapter was happy that the PDP hearkened to its call that Anambra be given the slot as it had plethora of individuals who could partner with any president to chart a new course for Nigeria.

“It is a welcome development, the choice of Obi is that of a round peg in a round hole, a governor he set Anambra on a pedestal for economic growth and left huge dune of money for future generation.

“During the campaigns, we told the aspirants that they should consider Anambra strongly for the slot of Vice President as a sign of appreciation to Late Dr Ekwueme who for his great work as a founding father of PDP.


“For the chapter here in Anambra, we are happy that Obi was picked and we are fully of confidence that the Atiku/Obi ticket is the magic wand Nigeria needs in all sectors especially economy,” he said.

Nwobu said the PDP through its primary had shown that it was the custodian of Nigerian democracy and had set great example which other political parties could learn from.

Also reacting, Mr Oseloka Obaze, Anambra governorship aspirant of the PDP in 2017 congratulated Atiku on picking Obi, saying he made the right choice.

Obaze, a diplomat, said it was a hard headed decision which was best in the interest of the country at this point in time.

“His Excellency, Atiku Abubakar has made the right choice in picking Peter Obi as his running make.

“Atiku has just the exhibited the ability to make hard-headed decision required of purposeful leaders.

”Let’s get Nigeria working again, God bless Atiku, God bless Peter Obi, and God bless Nigeria,” he said.

NAN

http://thenationonlineng.net/obis-choice-as-vp-a-great-honour-to-ekwueme/

…As Saraki tells Buhari to quit “now”

By Dirisu Yakubu

ABUJA- Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar has promised to reward the 11 aspirants who contested the sole ticket with him, if he is elected President of Nigeria in the 2019 general elections.

Atiku who stated this in Abuja at a meeting with members of the PDP Board of Trustees, BoT, charged them and other leaders of the party to rally behind him in his quest to make life better for Nigerians.

According to him, the sense of togetherness amongst the 12 who contested the party’s primaries in Port Harcourt recently, is an indication that the party is well positioned to take over power from the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, in 2019.

Senate confirms 22 as NPC commissioners, rejects Kaduna nominee

“I can assure you that I am prepared to work with and reward all of you if we unite together to achieve success. I must commend the sense of patriotism displayed by my fellow contestants. From the very day I delivered my acceptance speech, we have been working together. I believe it is our duty to provide that sense of unity and leadership to the rest of party members,” Atiku said even as he gave a brief account of what transpired behind closed doors in his Thursday’s meeting with former President, Olusegun Obasanjo.

“I visited my former boss in Abeokuta where we exchanged pleasantries. I may not say whether he is a PDP member or not, but he is with us body and spirit. Even before he delivered his statement, we retired to his private room where he gave me his statement to go through and possibly edit. He said he will launch my campaign to the presidency with the statement. That is vintage Olusegun Obasanjo for you,” he added.

Also speaking, Chairman of the BoT, Senator Walid Jibrin, congratulated Atiku and urged him to rally round other contestants in the presidential primaries in order for them to work together for victory in 2019.

He counseled him to engage youths, women and BoT members in his campaign train, adding that the board would not disappoint in any responsibility assigned to it.

Makarfi, Idris back Atiku

He said: “As our presidential candidate, you will beat other presidential candidates, especially the APC that is already going down the drain and I wish you God’s guidance and protection throughout the campaign and success as you eventually enter the Villa in 2019.

He added that consultations were going on for the Vice President to be selected from a zone that will attract more votes for the party.

“Consultations are ongoing in order for the Presidential candidate to select a formidable Vice. With the Presidential candidate and the campaign team putting their heads together, soon, the VP will be announced.

Atiku’s big win

“The strategy is that wherever the Vice President will come from will translate to additional votes for the party. It is not all about appointing a Vice President that will not add value to the party and that will guide those who will take decisions in due course,” Jibrin said.

For Uche Secondus, national chairman of the PDP, what would have amounted to a post-convention crisis has been nipped in the bud.

In his words, Atiku met with the Rivers state governor, Nyesom Wike shortly after the convention; a development not unconnected with the governor’s seeming unhappiness with the outcome of the primary election.

He said: “Immediately after the convention, the Presidential candidate and I visited the host governor and a few issues were resolved almost immediately because we had to carry the momentum from the venue.

On Monday, I called a meeting of all the former aspirants and they all came and we discussed heartily. They have already started implementing what we discussed by visiting critical stakeholders, governors and dignitaries.”

Highlighting the reasons the PDP tasted defeat in the last election, Secondus said the “party was complacent in 2015, which led to our losing the election,” even as he charged members of the BoT to win their various polling units in order to earn their rewards.

“Now, every BoT member must deliver his or her unit, ward or constituency. This was lacking in the last election. We must build a consensus and arrangement that ensures you will be rewarded and recognized when you deliver. We cannot play the type of Abuja politics that made us lose in 2015.”

INEC, he added, will neither rig when they see the faces of the nationalists members at the polling units, nor would security operatives intimidate them.

“Our task now is to focus and remain focused. Our target is to win all the polling units in the country and we will be able to do that, with the strategies in place. A popular candidate has emerged. He is grounded in Nigeria. What is left for us to do is to take the message home.

“The current government is vicious. They are framing up and coming up with lies and propaganda, but we are happy that we are in complete control of the National Assembly.

“We must sustain that so that the international community will be aware that the PDP is ready to take over the government and do what we know how to do best: which is to provide good leadership for Nigerians. Of course, the APC know how to be in opposition and they will go back to their former position. However, we can’t do it alone. We must have everyone on board. We must move fast immediately when INEC releases the timetable for campaigns.”

On his part, a visibly elated Senate President , Bukola Saraki called on President Buhari to quit “now now,” to pave way for the assumption of office by Atiku without further delay.

He said: “Buhari must go, now, now, now! His Excellency, Atiku Abubakar, should come in now, now, now!

“To hear the Presidential candidate spoke of rewarding members shows we now have a politician as an incoming president. It gives us the tonic to go out to the field and perform. I can assure you, on behalf of the BOT members that we will give you our total support.

“The meeting with former contestants in the convention, gubernatorial aspirants and stakeholders is sending a strong message across the country that we are united. Just one thing is remaining which to remove the President.

Present at the well-attended meeting were prominent BoT members including Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, erstwhile Kaduna state governor, Ahmed Makarfi, former Katsina state governor, Ibrahim Shema, ex-Aviation Minister, Kema Chikwe, and former Imo state governor, Achike Udenwa.

Others were former Minister of Police Affairs, Waziri Maina, ex-Minister of Women Affairs, Hajia Zainab Maina and former Niger state governor, Babangida Aliyu amongst others.


https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/10/2019-ill-reward-you-all-atiku-assures-pdp-presidential-aspirants/

A young man, Kamaludden Bashir, has commenced trekking from Zaria to Abuja to show his support over the emergence of Atiku Abubakar as the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Bashir who arrived Kaduna on Tuesday, a day after he left Zaria, told newsmen that he plans to reach Abuja within five days.

“I am really happy with the victory, that is why I am trekking to Abuja to show him that I am with him 100 per cent.

“Along the way, I will sensitizes thousands of youth to join me in the campaign to make Nigeria great under Atiku as president.

“I believe that only him can overcome the problems of unemployment, poverty, insecurity, communal and ethno-religious crisis disturbing the peace and stability of the country.

According to him, he left Kwarbai area of Zaria at about 6:30 am on Monday after his parents prayed for him.

Bashir believed that Abubakar’s structures all over the country were strong enough to push for his election in February.

“I believe in Atiku, that is why I am trekking in solidarity and praying for him to win the 2019 presidential election.

“I believe he is the best man that can fight corruption and take Nigerian youths to the promised land.”

According to him, he was robbed of his money, food and water along the way, but said the experience would not deter him from continuing with the journey.

Bashir urged Nigerian youths to support the former vice president during the general elections so as to put Nigeria on a better direction.

NAN

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/10/just-in-man-treks-to-abuja-for-atiku/amp/

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar says President Muhammadu Buhari would have ordered his arrest if he had evidence of corruption against him.

In a statement issued on his behalf by his campaign organisation, Abubakar said his emergence has thrown the camp of Buhari into confusion.

He also dismissed the allegation of the Buhari Campaign Organisation that he clinched the ticket of the opposition party as a result of financial inducement.

Abubakar said while he came out the top in a keenly contested exercise, such could not be said of Buhari.

“We are not surprised that there is confusion in the President’s camp. We expected that they would be thrown into a catatonic state knowing that HE Atiku Abubabakr’s emergence automatically means the coming end of their ignominious reign,” he said.

“That much was admitted by the President’s former running mate, Pastor Tunde Bakare when he praised the emergence of HE Atiku as an ‘Eagle’ and ‘a cosmopolitan wazobia’ politician. Obviously, Pastor Tunde Bakare has foreseen that the era of 97% versus 5% has come to an end with the emergence of the pan Nigerian Atiku Abubakar.

“We ask how can the Buhari Campaign Organisation disparage the PDP Primary that produced His Excellency, Atiku Abubakar, when even the President’s own wife, Aisha Buhari, has condemned the APC’s primary? Not only did Mrs Buhari condemn APC’s primaries, but she also described them as ‘unfair’ and lacking in integrity. Who can know President Buhari better than his wife.

“Eleven aspirants contested against His Excellency, Atiku Abubakar, during the Presidential primary of the PDP. Every single one of them accepted his victory. President Buhari was the only candidate cleared by the APC to contest its primary, yet, a coalition of 5 aspirants are challenging his victory, that alone tells Nigerians his emergence is fraudulent.

“Nigerians know that Atiku Abubakar is the most investigated politician in Nigeria and any smear by the Buhari administration remains just that. With the vindictiveness of President Buhari, he would have arrested HE Abubakar if he had been found wanting.

“However, to set the record straight, we want to remind Nigerians that PDP’s primaries were genuine, free and fair. Atiku Abubakar got 1,532 votes in a contest televised live to millions of Nigerians. The All Progressives Congress’ primary, on the other hand, was a study in dictatorship and corruption. The sole candidate, Muhammadu Buhari, scored almost 15 million votes. How could that occur without rigging or manufacturing of faceless voters?”

Abubakar said various acts of corruption were being committed under the current administration, which he said caused Transparency International to classify the country as more corrupt now than it was three years ago.

He said the choice before Nigerians was between a candidate who has provided over 50,000 jobs to people in his personal capacity and the other under whom 11 million Nigerians have lost their jobs.

“No wonder Transparency International rated Nigeria as more corrupt today under Buhari than just three years ago when the PDP was in power,” he said.

“The scandals are too numerous, including the $25 billion NNPC contracts awarded without due process, the several padded budgets, the $41 million Ikoyi Apartment scandal, the recall, reinstatement and double promotion of pension thief and Buhari financier, Abdulrasheed Maina, the N200 million grass cutter scandal, and many others too numerous to mention.

“The choice before Nigerians in 2019 is a simple one. Nigerians have a choice of electing a lively candidate with a record of providing 50,000 jobs to Nigerians in his private capacity versus the lifelessness (apologies to President Donald Trump) of a candidate under whom Nigeria lost 11 million jobs and became the world headquarters for extreme poverty.

“Nigerians have a choice of a man who will provide an efficient and business-friendly solution to the herdsmen crisis and a man whose government said ‘giving land for cattle ranching is better than death.”

“It is very obvious that faced with such a choice that Nigerians would definitely vote for the man who will Get Nigeria Working Again, hence we are not surprised by this desperate statement from the Buhari administration that is so shameless that they made a man implicated in framing a man of God on spurious charges as their spokesman. If he can lie against a man of God, should Nigerians believe anything he says about the PDP and its candidate?”

https://www.thecable.ng/atiku-buhari-would-have-arrested-me-if-i-am-corrupt/amp

He is only a few minutes into his emergence as presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the 2019 general election, but former Vcer President Atiku Abubakar is already setting about the business of wooing both his friends and enemies, all in a bid to bolster his arsenal ahead of the battle ahead.

While delivering his acceptance speech after he was officially declared winner of the primary with 1,532 votes to Aminu Tambuwal's 693, Atiku thanked former President Olusegun Obasanjo for picking him as his Vice President in 1999, saying without this, he could never have become the PDP presidential candidate today.

Atiku's words were clearly to woo his ex-boss, who has minced no words in saying he would never support Atiku to become President.

Only two months ago, Obasanjo had said: “How can I be on the same side with Atiku? To do what?

“If I support Atiku for anything, God will not forgive me. If I do not know, yes. But once I know, Atiku can never enjoy my support. I do not have personal grudges with anyone. If you do not do well for Nigeria, you do not do well for all of us.

“It is not a question of working with or not working with an individual,” he said. “If you are working for the good of Nigeria, I am working with you. If you are not working for the good of Nigeria it does not matter who you are I am not working with you.”

Despite having knowledge of Obasanjo's perception of him, Atiku said on Sunday while accepting to be PDP candidate: "Finally, on a personal note, I wouldn't have been standing where I am today if my former boss, President Olusegun Obasanjo, had not made me his Vice President.

"Under his tutelage, I learnt quite a lot, and I believe the experience I have got is going to impact on how I eventually govern this country. I wish to pay my personal tribute to him."

It remains to be seen if Atiku's latest charm offensive would convince Obasanjo to pipe down on his aversion to the presidential ambition of his one-time deputy.

http://saharareporters.com/2018/10/07/breaking-atiku-woos-obasanjo-minutes-after-becoming-pdps-presidential-candidate

Governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have agreed not to back any particular candidate at the national convention of the party on Saturday, PREMIUM TIMES has learnt.

Multiple sources privy to the outcome of a meeting held at Government House in Port Harcourt told PREMIUM TIMES the governors asked all delegates to go and vote for candidates of their choice.
“They have just met, and there was no consensus on any candidate” the source told PREMIUMS TIMES as he emerged from the meeting at 12:09 a.m. Saturday. “The delegates are now free to choose whoever they want.”

The decision could prove pivotal in a race largely considered too close to call even hours to its commencement.

There have been fears that all the twelve PDP governors may rally behind a candidate. Considering the formidable influence the governors wield over party affairs, political analysts expect whoever they endorse to easily coast to victory.

Two PDP governors are in the race, with sources telling PREMIUM TIMES the remaining 10 governors felt it would be inappropriate to be openly partisan towards one of them.

But with delegates now being asked to go and vote independently without being instructed by the governors, who often play the role of custodian of delegates, the fierce competition already witnessed in the weeks leading up to the primaries may get even more intense well into the last minute.
Even though governors have their individual preference among the aspirants, the decision to let delegates be free to make their choice could mean there would be more delegates to lobby for aspirants.

At least 4,000 delegates are expected to participate in the primaries, according to party officials. They have been arriving in town since Wednesday, and the last set would arrive by morning on Saturday.
Sources in at least five of the 12 campaigns told PREMIUM TIMES late Friday that their respective candidates would not step down for anyone else.

“No one is going to step down amongst the top contenders,” a source said. “You are more likely to see them win one vote and lose than to step down.”

PREMIUM TIMES reported how two of the aspirants, Senate President Bukola Saraki and Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe, publicly denied planning to step down for any candidate.

The 12 candidates in the race are: Atiku Abubakar, Ahmed Makarfi, Aminu Tambuwal, Datti Baba-Ahmed, Attahiru Bafarawa, Sule Lamido, Bukola Saraki, David Mark, Jonah Jang, Kabiru Turaki and Rabiu Kwankwaso.

They have all expressed confidence in their individual abilities to clinch the ticket and face President Muhammadu Buhari as the main challenger in the general election next February.


https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/288665-pdp-convention-governors-meet-reject-consensus-candidature.html

Police have reportedly attacked leaders and members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who are currently protesting against the outcome of the Osun State Governorship election at the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja.

“I have just been teargassed by the @PoliceNG at @inecnigeria office. Gunshots have been fired.

“This was a peaceful protest. How can I be treated like this in a country I have fought for and invested in?

“This is madness, I came with words they answered with bullets!” Senator Ben Murray Bruce tweeted.

Leaders of the opposition party among whom are the Senate President, Bukola Saraki; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara; and the National Chairman of the party, Uche Secondus, led the protesters to INEC office after they had earlier converged at the national headquarters of the PDP in Abuja.

Also among the protesters are Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State; former Niger State Governor and presidential aspirant, Sule Lamido; and Senator Dino Melaye, among others.

The PDP wants the electoral umpire to declare PDP candidate, Ademola Adeleke the winner of the Osun election.

http://dailypost.ng/2018/10/05/breaking-police-fire-teargas-shoot-saraki-dogara-ben-bruce-others-inec-office/

High-wire, last-minute political horse-trading is likely to see at least three Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential aspirants step down for Aminu Tambuwal, Governor of Sokoto State, SaharaReporters has been told.

Tambuwal is favourite to clinch the ticket, as he has the backing of Nyesom WIke, Governor of Rivers State, who is currently the party’s biggest financier.

The Tambuwal group is said to be pushing, and has made considerable progress, for the withdrawal of Sule Lamido, former Governor of Jigawa State and former Foreign Affairs Minister; David Mark, former Senate President, Niger State Governor and Communications Minister; and Ibrahim Dankwambo, the outgoing Governor of Gombe State, from the race to support the former House of Representatives Spesker.

“The Tambuwal camp has been able to reach out to some of the aspirants,” said a source very familiar with ongoing 59th-minute-of-the-eleventh hour meetings.

“They have been able to get David Mark, Lamido, Dankwambo to step down for Tambuwal between today and at the convention ground tomorrow. For now that is the plan.

“They are also trying to work with Kwanwaso but he has not given them any positive response for now. They are working on Ahmed Makarfi as well.”

However, according to the source, the proposed withdrawal of these aspirants is only part of a larger scheme to ensure Tambuwal emerges winner at all costs. The main scheme, he says, is to tamper with the delegates list.

“There is a process of selecting delegates across the states. For states where they have loyalists, and for states where they have governors who dance to the tune of Wike, they are trying to manufacture some delegates.

“You have statutory delegates, automatic delegates. Automatic delegates are the EXCO members, statutory delegates are former governors, former deputy governors and members of the House of Assembly and so on, while there are also delegates from the local governments. Now, most aspirants don’t know who is who across the states, since they’re coming from the national level.

“So what they did was that they put two, three up to 10 names that are a bit shady on the final delegates list; you cannot trace them as members of the House of Assembly, you cannot trace them as Local Government EXCO. For example, for states where they have 10 members of the House of Assembly that are members of PDP, they tried to make it 15 or 20. And it’s a total of around 700 that, if push comes to shove, they would use for Tambuwal as guaranteed delegates.

“But they are also doing that to justify the shady delegates list they’re preparing. If these guys step down, it will look to the people as though the supporters of these aspirants were the ones who voted for Tambuwal.”

When contacted, Simeon Nwakaudu, Tambuwal's spokesman, declined to react.

http://saharareporters.com/2018/10/05/exclusive-david-mark-lamido-dankwambo-step-down-tambuwal-‘within-48-hours’

The All Progressives Congress, APC has stated that it did not at any time suspend the member representing Delta Central Senatorial District at the National Assembly; Senator Ovie Omo-Agege who it maintained is a key member of the APC.

Responding to what it described as the fake news circulating in the media about the purported suspension of the Senator, the APC in a statement by its state Secretary, Chidi Okonji said Omo-Agege is the authentic nominee of APC for the Delta Central Senatorial District in next year’s election.

“He won the primary conducted on Wednesday, October 3rd, 2018 by the Primary Election Panel of APC led by General Lawrence Onoja from Benue State in a landslide.


“This clarification became necessary due to the fake news circulating in the media that the Distinguished Senator who is the only elected member of APC in Delta State has been suspended by the illegal State Working Committee led by Chief Cyril Ogodo on Wednesday, October 3, 2018.

“This same illegal Delta APC State Working Committee that claim to have suspended Omo-Agege also organized an alternative Delta Central senatorial primary in Ughelli on Tuesday, 2nd, Octibet that returned Olorogun O’tega Emerhor, who is no longer in our party, as the winner of the APC Delta Central Senatorial primary.

“You will recall that Ogodo and five other members of his illegal State Working Committee were expelled from the party last week for anti party activities and impersonation of party officials.
And such have no powers to suspend any member of our party”.

The statement urged members of the party, supporters of Senator Ovie Omo-Agege and the general public to disregard the purported suspension of the Senator and the alleged nomination of Olorogun O’tega Emerhor as the senatorial candidate for Delta Central District.

The Cyril Ogodo-led executive had conducted parallel primaries as against those conducted by the National Working Committee of the party, leading to the suspension of Chief Otega Emerhor by the national body.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/10/omo-agege-apc-denies-alleged-suspension/

The National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has condemned the “unauthorised primaries” held in Edo State into the Senate, House of Representatives and House of Assembly.

“The exercise conducted by unauthorised persons in collaboration with the Party’s Edo State Working Committee is hereby null and void,” the APC headquarters said in a statement by its spokesperson, Yekini Nabena.

Mr Nabena said a primary election committee under the chairmanship of Farida Suleiman will “be in Edo State later today (Thursday) to conduct the primaries into the Senate, House of Representatives and House of Assembly.

“The committee will make available the list of aspirants screened for the exercise and will conduct a transparent primary election in accordance with the guidelines and constitution of the APC.
“We admonish all party members in Edo State to cooperate with the committee to ensure an orderly, peaceful, transparent and credible exercise.”

Edo is the home state of the APC national chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, who governed the state for eight years before handing over to the incumbent, Godwin Obaseki.

The announcement by Mr Nabena indicates that all may not be well politically between Mr Oshiomhole and Mr Obaseki.

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/regional/south-south-regional/288365-apc-nullifies-edo-national-assembly-primaries-orders-fresh-exercise.html

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has put a call through to Mrs Rebecca Sharibu, mother of the Dapchi Secondary schoolgirl, Leah, who had been kidnapped by Boko Haram terrorists, and assured her that his administration will do everything it would take to bring her daughter back home.

Leah was among the 101 girls kidnapped in February this year by Boko Haram from Government Girls’ Science and Technical College (GGSTC), Dapchi, located in Bulabulin, Yunusari Local Government area of Yobe State.

Most of the girls were freed a month later, five were unaccounted for but the insurgents are still holding on to Leah because she refused to renounce her Christian faith.

The insurgents have since issued a deadline of October 15 for the federal government to move for her release or she will be killed.

On Wednesday, the Presidency announced that the President, during the phone call, consoled the Sharibu family and assured the parents that the Federal Government would do its utmost for the safety and security of their daughter.

“I convey my emotion, the strong commitment of my administration and the solidarity of all Nigerians to you and your family as we will do our best to bring your daughter home in peace and safety,” a statement issued by Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the President (Media & Publicity), quoted the president as saying.

He assured the mother that his heart was with her family, like that of the entire nation which continues to pray for the safe return of “our daughter, Leah.”

https://www.tribuneonlineng.com/167192/

Samuel Awoyinfa, Abeokuta

The Ogun State All Progressives Congress Chairman, Chief Derin Adebiyi, has declared the party’s consensus candidate, Adekunle Akinkade, winner of a parallel primary conducted on Tuesday.
The party chairman declared Akinlade winner while addressing journalists at the secretariat of the party in Abeokuta on Wednesday,
He said Akinlade, the consensus candidate of the Yewa Elders Council and the anointed candidate of the State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, polled 190, 987 votes out of 201, 620 valid votes cast across the 236 wards in the state.

Other aspirants who participated in the primary were Jimi Lawal, ex-deputy governor, Senator Adegbenga Kaka, immediate past Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Otunba Bimbo Ashiru, oil mogul Prince Dapo Abiodun and Abayomi Hunye.

Adebiyi said the party used the direct primary for the election, adding that it was monitored by officials from the Independent National Electoral Commission and security agents.

He said the state executive committee and the members of the party believed the NWC panel sent to the state had been “highly compromised.”
Adebiyi explained that they had waited for them last Sunday when it was first slated to hold but their telephone lines were switched off.

And he added that, “When we later got through to them in the evening on Sunday, they promised to arrive on Monday.

“They arrived on Monday and at the meeting held at the MITROS Suites, Ibara, Abeokuta, the NWC panel told us the primary would hold on Tuesday.

“The party members were all in their wards waiting for the NWC panel, but they never showed up.”
Adebiyi said the primary was conducted after three consecutive postponements by the Muhammad Indabawa-led seven-man panel sent by the National Working Committee of the APC to the state.

Adebiyi said they were suspicious of the panel when it said it would be using ballot papers to conduct the primary in the state.

https://punchng.com/ogun-apc-defies-nwc-panel-declares-amosuns-candidate-winner/

Says 250 ethnic groups in Nigeria not by mistake

Remain focused, courageous, Kumuyi tells Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday said that the visit by the General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church, Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi to the Presidential Villa, Abuja has boosted his morale.

He also noted that God did not make any mistake by creating 250 ethnic groups in Nigeria.

In a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and publicity, Femi Adesina, the President said “God did not make a mistake when he created over 250 different ethnic groups, and decided to put them in a place called Nigeria,’’

President Buhari said that Nigerians must appreciate God for bringing everyone together.

“We must appreciate God for bringing us together. He knows what he was doing. He didn’t make a mistake,’’ the President noted.

Describing Nigeria as “a great country’’ endowed with human and natural resources, President said: “We have challenges in trying to get people to understand us.

“With my experience as a governor, Minister of Petroleum, Head of State, Chairman of Petroleum Trust Fund, I thought I had seen it all, but Nigeria has a way of going at its own speed.


“My morale is raised by your visit. I very much appreciate it.’’ he added

President Buhari recalled what he described as Pastor Kumuyi’s “intellectual achievements’’ as a scholar and university lecturer before going into full time ministry, adding that he was “excited a great deal’’ for the General Superintendent’s acceptance of government’s invitation to preach the sermon at the country’s 58th independence anniversary.

“Thank you very much,’’ the President said.

In his remarks, Pastor Kumuyi, who leads one of the country’s largest Pentecostal churches, said it was an honour to be received by the President on a busy day as October 1.

He told the President that he appreciates the government.

“Please remain focused and courageous and do what is right. Not everyone will support you publicly, but we are praying for you so that your tenure will be one of progress and prosperity for the country.’’

The General Superintendent was accompanied by his wife, Esther, Pastor Samuel Afuwape, Pastor Chike Onwuasoanya and Pastor Seyin Malomo, the Chaplain of Aso Chapel.

http://thenationonlineng.net/buhari-to-kumuyi-my-morale-is-raised-by-your-visit/

President Muhammadu Buhari ‎has polled 1,226,181 votes at the end of the direct primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC) across the 312 wards in 27 Local Government Areas of Borno State.

The party's Chairman in the state, Ali Bukar Dalori, announced the figure on Sunday in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.

Buhari is the APC's sole presidential aspirant ‎seeking to contest on the party's platform in the 2019 general election. The party's NEC had adopted direct primaries for the presidential election, which held nationwide on Friday.

Speaking at a press briefing at the party's state headquarters in Maiduguri, Dalori told journalists that the elections held in Borno State, with members including Governor Kashim Shettima, taking part in wards.

He said officials from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) also observed the election in line with electoral laws.

Dalori said the election held peacefully, and stakeholders and members were mobilised to respective wards by the party with support from Governor Shettima, who is the party's leader in the state.

The Chairman thanked members for taking part in the election and urged them to prepare their voter cards to turn out higher votes for the president during the main election in February 2019. He also called on citizens ‎across parties to support Buhari's re-election bid.

He also said the state APC, led by Governor Shettima, is prepared to work towards ensuring an impressive number of votes for the President and all the candidates of the party during the 2019 election.

http://saharareporters.com/2018/09/30/buhari-gets-12m-votes-borno-apcs-direct-primaries