₦airaland Forum

Chei

Okezie Ikpeazu you don hear..... You are a wicked man for owing my parents who are working in your state 7 months salary.

Boleyndynasty2:
Nothing wey we no go see for ds country, you won a case and you still went to fight with yourself again in court? Am not understanding

Abeg help me ask Gov Okezie Ikpeazu why he is appealing a judgment that was given in his favour... Abi he is not sure of the judgment again? Why appeal your own victory? I dey laugh

See how this man is wasting state resources and allocations in court cases instead of using it to pay workers salaries that is running into 7 months now. This man wants to finish my parents who are civil servants in his state. Since he came in as Governor he has not used his monthly allocation to pay salaries. What he does with it..... Only God knows. The ones he managed to pay was from the bailout money he got from FG since then nothing. Yet, his praise singers thinks that it shall be well with him..... How can it be well with him? Like I said earlier when this case started and I repeat again...... If am lying against the Governor maybe just to smear his name and accuse him of owing workers salaries when he is not..... may God judge me but if am not may God bring him to judgment and visit him with the kind of suffering he has caused my parents.

Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, has kicked against the postponement of the state governorship election for two weeks or more.

Oshiomhole said the election could be postponed for one week because of the planned coronation of the Oba of Benin slated for September 26.

Speaking on a television programme on Thursday, the governor said the Oba’s coronation is a big event in Edo State.

He said, “We have a big event in Edo on September 26 which is the Oba’s coronation. Before that day, there are other events that must be done. It will not be proper to hold election during that period.

“Why not postpone the election for one week?”
On whether the All Progress Congress (APC) was afraid of defeat, Oshiomhole said the APC defeated the PDP in 16 local government areas in the last election held in the state.

He said his party was ready for the election, adding that Edo is not a war zone.

He added: “We will win the election. The PDP has no credibility in this state.”

http://thenationonlineng.net/poll-must-not-clash-obas-coronation-oshiomhole/

Hear him:

They tried to postpone the election using flimsy excuses but President Buhari said he was not aware of any security threat.

My pastor you are praising the President now.... Pls don't sing a different song tommorow Oooo.

Governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, has told his supporters that he would be waiting for them to return from their villages with victory songs on Sunday.

Pastor Ize-Iyamu spoke shortly after the Independent National Electoral Commission announced its decision to ignore security advice and go ahead to conduct the elections as scheduled.

Ize-Iyamu said all arrangements have been made to ensure the PDP emerges victorious on Saturday.

He said God has given victory to the PDP and it was time to work for the victory.

His words, “We are on the threshold of history. The day we are waiting for is now. They tried to postpone the election using flimsy excuses but President Buhari said he was not aware of any security threat.

“The postponement was arranged by the state government with some cabals to postpone the day of reckoning.

“They have procured duplicate result sheets. They are reaching out to members of NYSC and are attempting to bribe our party agents with any amount of money but we are not for sale.

“Everybody should make arrangement to go to their local government to work out logistics for the election. We need to tell our people that election will take place”.

http://thenationonlineng.net/ize-iyamu-supporters-waiting-victory-songs-sunday/

APC ready for election – Oshiomhole

Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, declared on Wednesday that the All Progressives Congress (APC) is “over prepared” for Saturday’s governorship election and appealed to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to postpone the “ final burial” of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for too long.”

He said, “The APC is ready for the election this Saturday and that was why we held our mega rally on Tuesday and after that rally our people across the state became more committed, more dogged and ready for the Saturday election.

“I am already preparing to go to my village to also mobilize my people as other party leaders are doing, that is to let you know that we are not relaxing despite the fact that we know the PDP is already dead and our people are just getting ready for the burial.

“However, security issues are security issues and as regards elections they are very critical. If on their own they are calling on INEC for postponement, I am sure they must have their reasons because they are experts in it. If you recall, we raise the alarm that the PDP had planned to import thugs from neighbouring states to help them unleash mayhem on our people because they are not prepared for the election.

“They have not been campaigning because they have no message rather they imported thugs into the state. But I wish the election will go on so that security agents will pick them up and expose them. So if security agents are raising this same alarm, I will not be surprised. I am aware some of my colleagues in the South -south threatened that they will deal with me in Edo because I went against former President Jonathan.

“But I laughed because I am serving the living God and I am glad they brought a fake pastor as their candidate and we will flush them all out. These threats have been there but my appeal is that if INEC is shifting the election, it should not be too far because we are eager to bury the PDP. We have purchased their coffin and ready to be sealed.”

http://thenationonlineng.net/apc-ready-election-oshiomhole/

Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo state has called on the Independent National National Electoral Commission not to postpone the September 10 governorship election in the state, declaring that his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), was “over-prepared” for the Saturday-scheduled polls.

He said shifting the election would further postpone the “final burial of the PDP for too long”.

According to him, “The APC is ready for the election this Saturday and that was why we held our mega rally on Tuesday and after that rally our people across the state became more committed, more dogged and ready for the Saturday election.

“I am already preparing to go to my village to also mobilize my people as other party leaders are doing, that is to let you know that we are not relaxing despite the fact that we know the PDP is already dead and our people are just getting ready for the burial.”

However, Oshiomhole who stated that security issues are security issues and as regards elections they are very critical, noted that “if on their own they are calling on INEC for postponement, I am sure they must have their reasons because they are experts in it. If you recall, we raise the alarm that the PDP had planned to import thugs from neighbouring states to help them unleash mayhem on our people because they are not prepared for the election”.

http://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2016/09/07/dont-postpone-edo-election-says-oshiomhole/

The leadership of the National Caretaker Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has dissassociated itself from a suit instituted by some party faithful against Justice Ibrahim Auta and Justice Okon Abang for their involvement in the judgments delivered on the party’s crisis.

The party’s position came just as the Senator representing Ogun East Senatorial District in Ogun State, Senator Buruji Kashamu, criticised the BoT’s handling of the PDP crisis, stating that it has no business passing a vote of confidence in either of the two contending parties when a lot of contentious legal issues are yet to be resolved.

A statement issued on Wednesday by Senator Ahmed Makarfi’s Special Adviser, Dr. Ibrahim Umar, urged any loyal party member or groups that may have initiated the suit in question to immediately withdraw it.

“The attention of the Chairman of the PDP National Caretaker Committee, Senator Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi, has been drawn to some publications in both the print and electronic media alleging that the PDP has sued Justice Ibrahim Auta and Justice Okon Abang as a result of their involvement in the judgment delivered on the party.

The party which has been embroiled in crisis leading to a series of litigations, said that it has no reason to sue the Justices of the Federal High Court, since it strongly believes on the judiciary as the last hope of the common man.

“We wish to state unequivocally that we are not part of the Suit at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court; and therefore, we are urging any loyal Party member or groups that initiated the Suit in question to immediately withdraw the Suit.

“The PDP under Senator Ahmed Makarfi has no reason to sue the honourable Justices of the Federal High Courts and the Party will continue to rely strongly on the Judiciary as the last hope of the common man knowing fully that its only our dependence on prudence Court Judgment that will continue to stabilize our democracy and bring about good governance.

“In the light of the above, the PDP has not instructed anyone or group of persons to file any Case on its behalf and therefore is not a party to Suit N0 9V/2239/2016 before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

“The general public, our members and teeming supporters should note that the Party is already taking appropriate legal steps to address previous dissenting Rulings.
“The PDP will continue to maintain its position as a Party that will provide alternative governance and people oriented programmes that is beneficial to all Nigerians,” he said.

Meanwhile, one of the key actors in the PDP conflict, Senator Buruji Kashamu, has described last Tuesday’s decisions of the BoT on the crisis rocking the party, as laughable.

Kashamu who was once a strong ally of the embattled Sheriff, accused the BoT of taking sides, a situation he said has cast doubt over their ability to broker genuine reconciliation among the warring parties.

http://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2016/08/31/makarfi-pdp-condemns-suit-against-justice-abang-auta/

Former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Prof. Charles Soludo, has expressed support for President Muhammadu Buhari’s emergency economic bill aimed at reviving the economy.
In a mini-blueprint for the All Progressives Congress (APC), Soludo also proposed a public spending of 15 percent to 20 percent (N14 trillion to N19 trillion) of the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP) to steer Nigeria out of recession to the next level.
He said the document, acquired by TheCable, is not a “blueprint” in itself but “only broad pillars,” which could be worked upon by a dedicated team to save the economy.
Highlighting the challenges face by the country, Soludo said Nigeria is ranked number 13 in the failed/fragile state index, behind Somalia, South Sudan, Central African Republic, Sudan, Yemen, Syria, Chad, Congo D.R., Afghanistan, Haiti, Iraq, and Guinea.
Professor of Economics, Soludo said this was due to uneven economic development, poverty and economic decline, demographic pressure, group grievance, refugees and IDPs, human flight and brain drain, state legitimacy, human rights issues and rule of law, poor security apparatus, factionalised elite and external intervention.
Soludo stated that Nigeria’s GDP compression from about $575 billion to about $296 billion (almost 50 percent) back to second position in Africa after South Africa could have been avoided.
“Exchange rate and crude capital controls: confusing trial-and-error of tried and failed neo-socialist command and control policy regime of 1960s- mid 1980s.
“As predicted, quantities (employment and output collapse)! Capital market comatose; capital flight with vengeance, private investment pulse, inflation soars, and twin deficits exacerbate. Economy in Recession compared to APC 10 percent Growth; three million jobs per annum.” He said the recession was caused by “delayed, incoherent (dysfunctional) and incomplete adjustment exerting great toll on the economy”.
“Outcomes so far (especially in 2016) self-inflicted by acts of omission and commission. Nigeria would have avoided a recession: One year enough for blaming fall in oil prices; after that blame our failures.”
At N6.06 trillion, Buhari’s budget of change was seen as the biggest budget in Nigeria’s history. But, Soludo says the budget, in dollar terms, is the smallest in recent years.
“Government’s budget in US$ is smallest in recent years $15- 19 billion, depending on exchange rate and about five percent of GDP— or approx. $80 per capita.” In context, former President Goodluck Jonathan’s last budget in 2015, was 26.4 billion in dollar terms, while Buhari’s 2016 budget is only 19.9 billion in dollar terms. Government’s 2016 budget signals more of the same, with tinkering at the margins; bail-outs, borrowing,” Soludo added.
In proffering solutions for the APC-led government, Soludo said the emergency economic bill is “a positive step forward; akin to Shagari’s ‘Economic Stabilization (Austerity measures) Act of 1982.’”
He warned that it “must be seen as only ‘first step,” and added that the problems are “beyond short-term demand management.”
He also said the focus so far has been stabilisation plus reflation (basic pump-priming), which he called “faulty and could become race to the bottom.”
He said the transition to an oil-independent economy is not sustainable by merely pumping money into the system but must include an agenda for supply-side/structural transformation.
He said the APC has 607 working days to make an impression on Nigerians.
“Big ideas to steer the economy to the next level need aggregate public sector spending of 15-20 percent of GDP; unconventional monetary-fiscal-exchange rate-financial regime; structural and institutional changes; infrastructure boom; unleashing the states.”
He said the APC needs a policy war room, which would drive political transformation and distinguish APC states.
“Politics always trumps economics, although sound economics is excellent politics: Sustainable change is impossible without political transformation of Nigeria!”
“No successful transformation to a ‘productive and competitive economy’ with META-level institutions designed for ‘distribution and consumption’”
He asked the APC to put up an agenda for “competitive federalism via fundamental constitutional change, including fiscal federalism—taxation powers, rights over natural resources, wage setting, fiscal responsibility, etc – breaking from unitary-federalism of uniform standards to multi-speed federalism with only minimum standards”.
“Too many of existing laws are inconsistent with a regime for competitive production; new ones needed.”
He proposed, among other things, that the policy war room should be fully funded to drive an industrialisation plan.
“Merely getting infrastructure and prices right won’t automatically ignite industrialization: It requires intensive case study approaches – Dangote or our big banks did not just happen: deliberate efforts were set to ‘create them.’”

http://sunnewsonline.com/soludo-backs-buharis-emergency-bill-proposes-n19trn-anti-recession-blueprint/

krendo:
If Supreme Court make their ruling then one of Ikpeazu or Ugah must step down

If Ikpeazu wins Ugah must resign and vice versa

Ugah can not carry on in office after showing so much disloyalty to his Boss!

I concur

Dr. Sampson Ogah has rejected the Court of Appeal judgment which set aside the judgment of a Federal High Court that ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to issue him with a certificate of return as the governor of Abia State. In a notice of appeal filed by his lawyer, Dr. Alex Izinyon, SAN, Ogah raised seven grounds of appeal upon which he relied to ask the apex court to affirm the decision of the trial court. Among others, he said the Court of Appeal judgment was against the weight of evidence.

Apart from the appeal to the Supreme Court, he asked the Court of Appeal to issue an order of injunction restraining the Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu from applying for any certificate of return from INEC pending the hearing and determination of the appeal at the apex court.

Ogah also asked the Appeal Court for an order of injunction restraining INEC from issuing any certificate of return to Ikpeazu pending the determination of the appeal.

He also asked the court to issue an injunction restraining INEC from retrieving or revoking or cancelling the certificate of return issued to him on June 27, 2016 in relation to the office of the Governor of Abia State pending the hearing of his appeal to the Supreme Court.

Ogah said the justices of the Court of Appeal erred in law when they held that he was wrong to have commenced the suit by way of originating summons.

According to him, his case bordered on simple interpretation of the Peoples’ Democratic Party’s constitution, and the guideline and provisions of the Electoral Act.

He also faulted the Appeal Court justices for holding that the trial judge imported the phrase, ‘as at when due’ into the 2014 PDP Guidelines and that it was immaterial that facts of the documents were admitted when the said documents was not presented before the court.

He explained that his case was for the interpretation of Section 14(a) of the PDP Guidelines, 2014 and sections 31(5) and (6) of the Electoral Act, 2010.

“The said provisions in Paragraph 14(a) of the said PDP Guidelines were reproduced, easing the requirement of tax by Ikpeazu as an aspirant for gubernatorial primaries of PDP and the consequent election.”

He also faulted the judgment of the Court of Appeal where the justices held that the false information envisaged under section 31(2) of the Electoral Act must not go outside the constitutional provision of sections 177 and 182 of the constitution.

He argued that the Court of Appeal failed to understand the difference between pre-election qualification/ disqualification. He stated that the provision of Section 31 of the Electoral Act and challenge on grounds of false information was a pre-election matter.

“Failure of the Court of Appeal to appreciate this manifest dichotomy led to a miscarriage of justice,” he added.

The Appeal Court had, in a unanimous judgment, set aside the judgment of Justice Okon Abang which removed Ikpeazu from office.
Five justices namely Ibrahim Shatta Bdliya, Philomena Buwa Ekpe, Morenikeji Ogunwumiju, Abubakar Datti Yahaya, and Saidu Tanko Huseni had unanimously set aside the judgment.

They held that the trial judge went beyond his powers as a judge, became biased and also turned the law upside down. The court held that the matter was hostile, controversial and contentious and should not have been commenced by originating summons. In the views of the justices, the proper mode of commencement of the case should have been writ of summons.

The court held that Justice Abang erred in law and occasioned a miscarriage of justice against the governor when he refused to give him a fair hearing. The court further held that the judge pre-judged the matter when he touched on the substantive issues at the preliminary stage without hearing the appellant.

Justice Ogunwumiju who delivered the lead judgment in one of the appeals, held that Justice Abang “committed a grave violence against one of the pillars of justice” relating to fair hearing.

She further held that Justice Abang raped democracy in his order that INEC should issue a certificate of return to Ogah when there was no evidence of forgery or criminality against the appellant.

According to the court, the judgment of Justice Abang was grossly erroneous because it was based on inadequacy of tax receipt that cannot be visited on the appellant (Ikpeazu).

Justice Ogunwumiju also held that the trial judge turned the head of the law upside down in his conclusion that it was the appellant that should bear the burden of proof of an allegation made by Samson Ogar. The court said Justice Abang placed the law on its head when it directed INEC to issue fresh Certificate of Return to Mr. Sampson Ogah. While upholding the appeal, the court awarded N100,000 cost against Ogah.

Earlier, the court had held that Justice Okon Abang was wrong to have assumed jurisdiction on a motion for stay of execution of his earlier judgments delivered on June 27 even after the appeals against the judgments had been entered.

Justice Philomina Ekpe, who read the lead judgment, held that what Justice Abang ought to have done in line with time-honoured doctrine of “stari decisis” was to have transferred the motion to the Court of Appeal for determination.

The appellate court ruled in favour of the appellant Ikpeazu on his appeal challenging Abang’s decision to hear the application for a stay of execution of his judgment when he was duly informed that the appeals had been entered.

Justice Ekpe in her lead judgment held: “The lower court (Justice Abang) has made a complete summersault of the entire suit. Once an appeal is entered into, there is nothing left for the trial court to adjudicate upon. All the trial court was supposed to do was to transmit the record of proceedings to the appellate court. But it deliberately chose to do otherwise. This is against Order 4 Rules 10 and 11 of the Court of Appeal Rules 2011. The lower court acted ultra vires.”

Justice Abang had insisted that he had jurisdiction to hear a motion for stay of execution of his earlier judgments delivered on June 27 even after the appeals against the judgments had been entered at the Appeal Court.

In her contributing judgment, Justice Ogunwumiju who presided at the hearing of the appeal also held that Justice Abang “deliberately stood the law on its head”‎ when he erroneously assumed jurisdiction to hear the motion and adjourned it till a later date.

She further held that Justice Abang lacked jurisdictions to interpret the provisions of the Court of Appeal being the rules of a superior court. Judgment is still ongoing in the main appeal challenging Justice Abang’s Judgment which removed the governor from office.

http://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2016/08/28/ogah-asks-supreme-court-to-reverse-appeal-courts-decision-on-abia/

The Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammad Sanusi, on Wednesday attributed the current economic recession in the country to inability of the past administrations to diversify the economy.

He made the remark while delivering a lecture at the ongoing 15th meetings of the Joint Planning Board and National Council on Development Planning in Kano.

He said there was urgent need for the country to return to the drawing board and expand the economy through wise investment for the economic growth and development of the country.

“If we do not expand the economy through wise investment, we can end up in classical Malthusian situation.

“If this government continues to behave the way the past government behaved, we will end up where Jonathan ended.”

He said in a situation where one sits down with a telephone call to make one billion Naira without investing a single Kobo, that system is wrong and unsustainable.

He lamented that in spite of the past experiences we had on our socio-economic challenges, the country was still making the same mistakes as we cannot process tomato paste.

“In a situation where we cannot process tomato. Tomato paste is being imported from China. It is sad.”he said.

The title of the paper is: Nigeria In search of new growth model. (NAN).

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/08/economic-recession-blame-past-administrations-sanusi/

A pan Igbo group, Ndigbo Bu-Otu Union, Sunday, kicked against last Thursday’s Appeal Court judgement, nullifying the July 6 judgement of the Federal High Court, Abuja, which sacked Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, from office over tax evasion and ordered that Mr Uche Ogah, who came second in the 2014 governorship primary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, be sworn in.

This is even as the group commended Mr Uche Ogah for what it described as his matured conduct and ability to prevail on his followers against resorting to violence following judgement of the appellate court. .

National President of the organisation, Mazi Igwekala Leo Ugomaduefule, addressing journalists, in Abuja, at the weekend, said the body rejected the judgement, having studied the grounds adduced by the court in reaching the decision.

He accused the judge of being inconsistent in her judgement, saying his group found fault and had prepared petition against her.

” A situation where the judge admitted that the serial number of the tax receipts brought by Governor Ikpeazu were not consistent and that one of the dates on the tax receipts fell on a Saturday but went on to say that it was not the duty of the man who the tax receipts were given to verify, is bad, “he said.

He said his organisation had already prepared a petition that would be submitted to the National Judicial Council, NJC, against the judge of the Appeal Court, Abuja, who sat on the case, saying the body was not convinced of reasons adduced by the judge.

“I must put it point-blank that the judge was biased and very soon, the judge must tell Nigerians what made her to take the decision or tow the line of action she took.

”My group has evidence against her here and we intend to forward it to the National Judicial Council, NJC, very soon to properly investigate the judgement delivered by the judge, he disclosed.

”For Mr Uche Oga, for not taking to violence to address his grievances following the court judgement, we as a body concerned with the economic and social wellbeing of Ndigbo, must commend him.

Uche Ogah has the interest of not only Abia State but the whole Igbo states at heart, that is why all his investments are concentrated on the South East especially Abia State.

“I can tell you that 90 percent of his investments are located in Abia State where he comes from.

But if it were some people who are power drunk, some people who are desperate, the moment he got the judgement of the Appeal Court, heaven would have fallen.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/08/abia-igbo-group-flays-a-court-judgement-on-ikpeazus-election/

OP pls add this source to the topic

http://www.abiafactsnews.com/apga-abia-state-disagrees-with-court-of-appeal-decisions-and-advises-ikpeazu-to-learn-from-ogah/

With the title

APGA ABIA STATE DISAGREES WITH COURT OF APPEAL DECISIONS AND ADVISES IKPEAZU TO LEARN FROM OGAH

I concur

In spite of heavy criticisms of the All Progressives Congress, APC, led administration by many Nigerians, former President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday, gave President Muhammadu Buhari a pass mark saying “so far, Buhari has not disappointed us”.

Speaking with newsmen in Taraba state, Obasanjo expressed confidence in President Buhari’s ability to “overcome” Nigeria’s challenges. “So far, Buhari has not disappointed us. I trust him (Buhari), he will not fail Nigerians. I know he will overcome the challenges the country is currently facing,” he said.

Obasanjo also stressed that his decision to leave the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is final and cannot be reversed. He said that having drawn the curtain on his membership of the former ruling party, there is no coming back. “In the part of the country where I come from, there is a saying that you cannot say, ‘good night’ and come back to say ‘good evening’ in the same place. So for me, it is good night for the Peoples Democratic Party and that’s all.”

Meanwhile, the General Overseer of the Latter Rain Assembly, Pastor Tunde Bakare has appealed to Nigerians to exercise patience with President Buhari saying it is too early to judge him. Pastor Bakare who expressed confidence in the abilities of Buhari to turn the country around for the better, and bring the country “out of the woods”, said there is no pain without gain.

The pastor was speaking at the presidential villa in Abuja after holding a closed door meeting with Buhari yesterday Said he: “It’s too early and just too soon to begin to judge. If there is anything I know about Mr. President, it is that he has a good heart. He loves this country and he wants the country to run well,” he said. But it takes time. I know we are all impatient and in a hurry and I trust we will come out of the woods.

“When you are driving on a wrong direction, for example, you are going to Ibadan and you face Badagry, and you get to Cotonou and you realise you have gone in the wrong direction for too long a time, then you make a U-turn, there will be some suffering you have to go through.

“Pain is part of gain. No pain no gain.” The years of wastage and all that we have done wrong has finally caught up with us. “All we are praying for is wisdom for this government to do things right and to do the right things so that gradually, we can begin to come out of the woods.”

Bakare was Buhari’s running mate in 2011 when the president contested on the platform of the then Congress for Progressive Change (CPC).

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/08/far-buhari-not-disappointed-us-obasanjo/

Austino50:
hay don't cast aspersion on justice Abang yet over Abia's judgement wait for Supreme Court judgement

You ve said it all. This was how some people celebrated the appeal court judgement of Rivers and Akwa Ibom state Governorship case till it got to the Supreme Court and supreme Court Justices tore the judgment into pieces. So it's too early to celebrate cos It's 1:1for now.

O se ti go

Illegality upon Illegality = Illegality

Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has extended the tenure of Senator Ahmed Markafi led national committee of the party by one year.

The party reconvened at the Rivers state secretariat of the party on Aba road in Port Harcourt Wednesday after armed to the teeth security operatives sealed off Sharks stadium, the initial venue of the convention.

Before extending the life of the national Caretaker Committee, Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon Leo Ogor moved a motion to amend the agenda of the convention. Elections of national officers was finally removed from the day’s business.

Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu moved the motion for extention of the tenure of the Senator Markafi led national Caretaker Committee.

It is expected that within the life of the new CTC, all court cases would be resolved.

The party also expounded the number of the national Caretaker Committee to 13.

And the members were told not to contest for any office when the party will be ready for the election of national officers.

The national Caretaker Committee Chairman, Senator Markafi in his acceptance speech promised to rebuild, unite and restore the glory of the party.

Professor Jerry Gana gave the closing prayer.

Some leaders of the party sited at the crowded while the convention was ongoing were the Chairman of the national convention planning committee and governor of Rivers state, Nyesom Wike, his Ondo state counterpart Dr Olusegun Mimiko, governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State, senate Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio.


http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/08/pdp-holds-convention-extends-tenure-of-markafi-s-ctc/

Hahahahaha..... Ogbahara.... There is fire on the mountain.... Run Run Run

This is interesting..... So this is what happened. Thank God for section 31-4,5&6 of the Electoral act that came to the rescue if not this would have gone unnoticed.

ABUJA—The Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal, on Tuesday, reserved its judgment on appeal challenging the removal of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State from office over alleged tax fraud.

Also the PDP lawyer has said that there is no law that tax papers must be submitted to INEC as part of the qualifications for electuon and that 2014 guidelines of the PDP did not stipulate that an aspirant must pay tax.


Ikpeazu and Ogah

A five-man panel of Justices of the apex court led by Justice Morenike Ogunwumiju, adjourned the matter for judgment after it heard six separate appeals that arose from verdict of the Federal High Court in Abuja that removed Ikpeazu.

Trial Justice Okon Abang had on June 27, ordered Ikpeazu to immediately vacate the governorship seat, even as he directed the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to issue fresh Certificate of Return to Mr. Sampson Ogah who came second in the gubernatorial primary election the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, conducted in Abia State on December 8, 2014.

Justice Abang said he was satisfied that Ikpeazu perjured by giving false information in the Form CF001 and documents accompanying it, which he submitted to both PDP and the INEC.

Meantime, both Ikpeazu and the PDP, through their respective team of lawyers, on Tuesday, urged the appellate court to set-aside the high court judgement which they said has occasioned a huge miscarriage of justice.

Arguing his appeal, Ikpeazu, through his team of lawyers led by Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, insisted that Justice Abang acted beyond his powers and misdirected himself in law.

According to him, “The trial judge erred in law when he ordered as a consequential order that the appellant vacates his office as the Governor of Abia state immediately when there was no jurisdiction in the Federal High Court to remove, vacate the occupier of the office of the governor of a state or order the removal of such officer after the unsuccessful challenge of the result of the election at the Tribunal and swearing in of the appellant as the governor.”

He contended that the only power, authority and order exercisable by the trial court was to disqualify a candidate from contesting election based on section 31(6) of the Electoral Act 2010.

Ikpeazu faulted Justice Abang for arriving at the conclusion that he did not pay his tax for the years 2011, 2012 and 2013, as at when due.

He said the high court judge got it wrong considering that he was a public officer whose tax deduction was under Pay As You Earn, PAYE, scheme where tax deductions were from the source of his monthly salary by the tax authorities who issued all the tax receipts and certificates.

Ikpeazu told the appellate court that Abia State Board of Internal Revenue Services that issued tax certificates to him had not declared the certificates forged.

Ikpeazu maintained that trial Justice Abang violated his right to fair hearing by embarking on judicial investigation without granting him the opportunity to address the court on the issue.

He argued that the judge had no duty to investigate contents of documents that were merely dumped on the court by the plaintiff.

“The decision of the judge which arose from the judicial investigation without opportunity to the appellant violated the appellant’s right to fair hearing”, the governor contended.

Ikpeazu also rejected decision of the high court that he was not qualified to be nominated at the primary election that was conducted by the PDP, because he supplied false information to INEC .

He told the appellate court that INEC Form CF001 which the judge relied on was not one of the grounds of qualification to contest the primary election of PDP.

Similarly, PDP lawyer, Dr. Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN, told the appellate court that Justice Abang wrongly relied on 2010 guidelines of the party to hold that governor Ikpeazu did not pay his tax as at when due.

He argued that 2014 guidelines of the PDP did not stipulate that an aspirant must pay tax “as at when due”.

PDP said the appellate court must construe section 31(2) of the Electoral Act, 2010, that provides for filing of Form CF001, in line with sections 177 and 182 of the 1999 Constitution that stipulated qualifications for governorship aspirants.

“My lords, we submit that there is no law that tax papers must be submitted to INEC as part of the qualifications”, PDP lawyer argued.

Earlier in the proceeding, Justice Ogunwumiju drew Ikpeazu’s attention to a letter from the Ali Modu Sheriff-led faction of the PDP that sought to withdraw the appeal.

The said letter was signed by the Deputy National Legal Adviser of the party, Bashir Maidugu.

Meanwhile, Ogah, through his lawyer, Dr. Alex Iziyon, SAN, on Tuesday, prayed the appellate court to dismiss all the appeals and affirm the trial court judgment.

Iziyon stressed that PDP had at the lower court, admitted that it submitted Ikpeazu’s tax papers to INEC in error.

He argued that issue of payment of tax as at when due was immaterial since information on the tax document itself was false.

Ogah further accused Ikpeazu of abusing judicial process by taking the subject matter of the case before an Abia State High Court despite the pendency of his appeal.

Aside Ikpeazu and PDP, the other appeals were filed by another gubernatorial aspirant of the party in the state, Mr. Friday Nwosu, who is also laying claim to the governorship seat.

Nwosu is contending that Ogah ought not to benefit from the December 8, 2014, primary election of the PDP since he publicly condemned the exercise which he said was rigged in favour of Ikpeazu.

Besides, Nwosu who came fourth at the said primary election, argued that since Ogah who emerged second refused to sign the result, the high court ought to have declared him as the bonafide replacement for governor Ikpeazu.

On its part, INEC withdrew all the processes it filed in respect of the matter, saying it will abide by whatever decision the appellate court arrives at.

The appeal court panel said it would communicate the judgment date to all the parties.

It will be recalled that the appellate court had on July 26, given Ikpeazu the nod to remain on seat pending the determination of the appeals.

Trial Justice Abang had in a ruling he delivered on July 8, declined Ikpeazu’s plea for a stay of execution of the verdict, saying his sack remained valid until a higher court states otherwise.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/08/ikpeazu-vs-ogah-there-is-no-law-that-says-tax-papers-must-be-submitted-to-inec-as-part-of-qualifications-pdp/

How does this affect the substantive case pending at the Appeal court.... Instead of concentrating on their appeal they are wasting our money pursuing shadows at the FHC..... very soon they will beg Abians to remain in power..... Wicked people. This is why the Governor wanted to remain on seat and appeal so that he can easily help himself with Government funds.

cktheluckyman:
Op thank you for your observation but it will not affect the court case as Ogah remains a hon certificate of return holer

So this is what you say? You are part of the People deceiving the embattled Governor. This evil man wants to finish my parents who are civil servants in his state. Since he came in as Governor he has not used his monthly allocation to pay salaries. What he does with it..... Only God knows. My parents are being owed 5 months salary and the thing is seriously telling on me as I cannot save again. They were last paid in January and this is July and his praise singers thinks that it shall be well with him..... How can it be well with him? The ones he managed to pay was from the bailout money he got from FG since then nothing. If am lying against him maybe just to smear his name may God judge me but if not may God bring him to judgment and visit him with the kind of suffering he has caused my parents.

Chai..... My people have suffered and Ikpeazu is busy wasting federal allocation on court cases.

Mmmmmh tot it was only the Bida of a man Oooo. Pls Mods do the needful to balance the equation. Lalasticlala front page oh

The Bayelsa State Governorship Electoral Petitions Tribunal on Tuesday dismissed the petition filed by the All Progressives Congress and its candidate in the last governorship election in the state, Timipre Sylva, challenging the victory of the incumbent Governor of the state, Seriake Dickson.

The three-man panel of the tribunal led by Justice Kazeem Alogba, in dismissing the petition, held that Sylva and its party failed to prove their case with credible evidence.

It held that criminal allegations of various electoral offences which the petitioners stated affected the outcome of the election were not proved beyond reasonable doubt.
It held that the petition was not backed by proof and required standard.

Sylva and the APC had on January 30, 2016 filed their petition challenging the Independent National Electoral Commission’s declaration of Dickson and his party, the Peoples Democratic Party as the winner of the governorship election with the supplementary ones held on December 5, 2015 and January 9, 2016.

The election in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area and some other parts of was initially rescheduled to take place on December 6, 2015, but was cancelled after it was marred at the early stage by widespread violence.

The petitioner had alleged that the election was marred by malpractices, intimidation of voters, hijacking of electoral materials, no-voting and non-collation of results in substantial parts of Sagbama, Yenogoa, Nembe, Ogbia,and Ekeremor Local Government Areas.

The petitioners also contented that the INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state lacked the power to unilaterally cancel the supplementary election scheduled in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area for December 6, 2015 and rescheduled it to January 9, 2016.

But the tribunal in its judgment held that the INEC was right and had the power to have cancelled the supplementary election said to have held on December 6, 2015.

It held that contrary to the petitioners’ contention, the decision to cancel the December 6, 2015 poll was not unilaterally taken by the REC, but was a decision taken by INEC and “merely announced by the REC”.

It held that there was evidence that the earlier supplementary election scheduled to hold on December 6, 2015, was marred by widespread violence, malpractices and irregularities.


http://punchng.com/tribunal-dismisses-sylvas-petition-dicksons-election/

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has postponed the scheduled rerun elections in Rivers State over security concern.

INEC has therefore fixed July 30 for the rerun elections in some parts of the state.

In a statement signed by its Secretary, Mrs. Augusta Ogakwu, INEC maintained that it was ready to conclude the rerun election within the shortest possible time but the enabling environment must be provided by the political actors.

The commission cited last Saturday’s attack on its office in Khana local government area of the state as a sign of prevailing danger.


http://thenationonlineng.net/inec-postpones-rivers-rerun-election/

MadamExcellency:
The travails of Abdulmumin Jibrin continues.

This was the same olodo that hired Enwegbara, the renowned economist for N115 million to question Nigeria's Economy and the its standing in the world with 50 useless questions when he was the Chairman, House Committee on Finance, while APC and fringe opposition rejoiced thinking that Nigeria Economy belonged to Jonathan and Dr Ngozi Okonjo Iweala.

Corrupt cabal that deceives themselves.

Mmmmmh