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APC will feature in Bayelsa election, court only disqualified party’s candidates - INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says the All Progressives Congress (APC) will participate in the Bayelsa governorship election.

Festus Okoye, commissioner of INEC voter education and publicity, told TheCable the party’s name is among those to be featured on the ballot papers on Saturday.

He said the court disqualified the party’s candidates from the election but that it did not rule that the party will not be featured in the ballot papers already printed.

“We do not have any court judgment that said the APC should not be on the ballot paper, what the court said is that the party does not have a candidate,” he told TheCable on Friday.

“Where we are currently is that we have 45 political parties on the ballot papers and the APC is also on the ballot. Their votes will be counted as well.

“It is only after we collate the votes from the various registration areas up to the state level that the declaration will be made and that is when candidates will be revealed.”

Asked if votes cast for the APC in the election will be invalidated since the court sacked its recognised candidate, Okoye said INEC “has not gotten to that stage yet”, adding that ”this will be decided after the voting process”.

The commission earlier recognised David Lyon as the APC governorship candidate in the election after he was declared winner in the party’s primary poll.

But a federal high court sitting in Abuja disqualified Lyon and ruled that the APC does not have a candidate in the election after its deputy governorship candidate was discovered to have submitted false academic information.

Another court in Bayelsa also sacked him while ruling on a separate suit filed by Heineken Lokpobiri. It held that the party did not conduct a credible primary election.

The ruling, however, came about 48 hours to the poll, long after INEC had printed ballot papers for the exercise taking place on Saturday.

https://www.thecable.ng/inec-apc-will-feature-in-bayelsa-election-court-only-disqualified-partys-candidates

***•PDP gets 20 chairmanship, APC 80


Immediate past Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, and opponents of the incumbent speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, were among those that lost out as heads of the house standing committees were named yesterday.

Among those named as chairmen and deputy chairmen of Grade A committees are known allies of the speaker, especially from Lagos, Kano and Katsina states.

A breakdown of the list indicates that the All Progressives Congress (APC) got a total of 80 committee chairmen and 63 deputy chairmen, while the major opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) got 20 and 30 deputy chairmen, while the remaining chairmanship and deputy chairmanship positions were shared by the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Action Alliance( AA) and Allied Peoples Movement (APM).

During the campaign for the speakership, Gbajabiamila promised to cede 60 committee chairmanship and deputy chairmanship to the PDP lawmakers, if they support him to emerge as speaker.

But the PDP endorsed his opponent, Umar Bago, ahead of the contest. However, a few PDP members voted for the speaker despite the party’s support for a different candidate.

Surprisingly, the chairmanship of the House Committees Petroleum ( Upstream) and Petroleum (Downstream), which were occupied by Victor Nwokolo and Joseph Akinlaja, from Delta and Ondo state respectively, in the eight assembly were given to Sakin Ader and Mahmud Abdulahi Gaya. Ader and Gaya, who are both from the APC hails from Sokoto and Kano states respectively.

Also, the Director General of the Femi Gbajabiamila Campaign Organisation, Abdulmumin Jibrin did not get any committee chairmanship. Jibrin was the chairman of the Appropriations Committee in the first year of the eight assembly, before he fell out with former speaker, Yakubu Dogara.

Prior to the announcement of the list of committee chairmen, Gbajabiamila appealed to anyone, who might feel offended with the composition to forgive him..

Immediately after the announcement, lawmakers gathered in clusters, apparently to discuss the development. Also, while some walked up to the dais to confer with the speaker, others quietly walked out of the chamber.

Those named as committee chairmen include the deputy speaker, Ahmed Wase, Constitution Review; Muktar Betara , Appropriations; Abdulrasak Namdas, Army; Benjamin Kalu, Media and Public Affairs; Babajimi Benson, Defense; while Umaru Bago, who contested against Gbajabiamila for the speakership position was named as the chairman, House Committee Cooperation and Integration in Africa.

Other committee chairmen are Khadijah Bukar Ibrahim, North East Development Commission (NEDC) and Julius Ihonvbere, Basic Education; James Faleke, Finance; Wale Raji, House Services; Ibrahim Babangida, Capital Markets and Institutions; Garba Datti, Ports and Barbour; Abdulahi Garba, Federal Capital Territory ( FCT) among others.

PDP lawmakers appointed as committee chairmen include: Wole Oke, Public Accounts Committee ( PAC); Lynda Ikpeazu , Maritime, Safety and Education; Nicholas Mutu, Gas Resources, Darlington Nwokocha Insurance.

Also, Onofiok Luke, a former Speaker of Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, is to head Committee on Federal Judiciary. Victor Nwokolo is heading Committee on Banking and Currency, while Beni Lar retained the chairmanship of Science and Technology.

However, Kingsley Chinda and Chukwuma Onyema, who are claimants to the position of minority leader and deputy minority leader respectively, were among PDP members, who did not get committee chairmanship.

While Chinda was the chairman, Public Accounts Committee ( PAC) in the eight assembly, Onyema was the deputy minority leader.

Similarly, another PDP strong member, Tajudeen Yusuf, did not get any committee chairmanship.

Meanwhile, the House , yesterday, adjourned plenary for its annual vacation to resume on September 17, 2019.


https://www.sunnewsonline.com/dogara-gbaja-opponents-lose-out-as-reps-unveil-committees/

Intense intrigues and lobby have restrained the submission of President Muhammadu Buhari’s list of ministerial nominees to the Senate in spite of assurances by the presidency on Wednesday night that the list had been concluded and was on its way to the upper chamber of the federal legislature.

A presidency source had told THISDAY that the president had closed entries into the list and directed its submission just as he had instructed the transmission of his application for approval for appointment of 15 special advisers.

The President of the Senate, Senator Ahmed Lawan, had told his colleagues on Tuesday that he was expecting the list shortly in order to enable the Senate to consider the nominees and confirm them before the legislators proceed on recess.

But THISDAY gathered last night that the nation might have to wait a while to know those the president would be proposing to work with as the intrigues surrounding the compilation of the nominees have become intense with former ministers mounting blistering pressure to return to office.

Many of them are said to have besieged the president’s close associates to lobby them to make a case for their aspirations.

However, they are said to have met with stiff opposition from party faithful and campaign canvassers, who believe that having worked hard during the electioneering to secure success for the party and Buhari in the general election, they should be the beneficiary of the victory.

“Party officials are strong in their position that they could not work for others to reap the fruit of their labour,” a presidency source said, adding: “They are insisting that most of the former ministers must give way to members of the party that made the president’s re-election possible.”

Buhari is said to be torn between these two tendencies and appears to be unable to make a decision, recalling the list severally to make changes.

But a reliable presidency source told THISDAY last night that the list would be transmitted by weekend because time is no longer on the side of the president.

“It has almost become a credibility issue,” he said, “because the president had indicated he would send the list on Wednesday, which explained the assurance the Senate president gave his colleagues on Tuesday.

The Senate, a source had told THISDAY on Wednesday, had decided to postpone its recess by one week to enable it consider the ministerial list.

The National Assembly is scheduled to proceed on its long vacation on July 25 to resume in the fourth week of September. Except the Senate gets the list by Tuesday, confirmation hearing may not happen till October.

https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2019/07/12/intrigues-intense-lobby-delay-submission-of-ministerial-list/

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila has appointed his media team.

A statement personally signed by the Speaker reads: “I am pleased to inform the general public of the appointments of the following members of my media team.

“Special Adviser on Media and Publicity – Olanrewaju Lasisi

“Until this appointment, Olanrewaju Lasisi, 46, was the parliamentary correspondent of Channels Television with over 10yrs experience reporting activities of the House of Representatives. He was also the producer and presenter of a weekly television programme, “The Gavel”, which focuses on the Nigerian parliament.

Lasisi holds a Masters Degree in Performing Art from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

“He has participated in media exchange programmes both in Nigeria and United States of America.”

“The Chief Press Secretary is Musa Abdulahi Krishi .

“Until this appointment, Musa Abdullahi Krishi, 33, was Daily Trust Newspaper correspondent in the National Assembly with 6yrs experience reporting activities of the House of Representatives and Senate. He was Assistant Political Editor at Daily Trust between 2014 and 2015.

“He joined Daily Trust newspaper in 2012 as part of the newspaper’s policy of automatic employment for best graduating students of mass communication. Krishi hails from Kokona Local Government of Nasarawa State.

The Speaker’s Special Assistant on New Media is Bukola Ogunyemi.

‘Until this appointment, Bukola Ogunyemi, 32, @Zebbook, was a social media specialist with World WildLife Fund in Washington DC, USA.

“He is a former social media manager for Chocolate City Group, where he influenced social engagement of eight labeled artists.

“He has managed more than 100 social media accounts, digital campaigns for companies, businesses, governments, and non-profit organisations.

“Ogunyemi, a graduate of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife , owns the verified Twitter handle @Zebbook where he discusses public policy, advocacy, current events, and technology with over 33,000 followers.

“He is an active member of Data & Marketing Association, Internet Marketing Association and International Public Relations Association.”

“The Special Assistant on Print Media is Dele Anofi

‘Until this appointment, Dele Anofi, 52, a graduate of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria was The Nation Newspaper’s Politics Correspondent in the House of Representatives for 7 years.

“He was also a Public Relations Officer at the Federal Housing Authority 1996 – 2001.
Anofi is an alumnus of the United States (US) International Visitor Leadership Program, Washington DC. He hails from Ilorin, Kwara State.”

He added: “Kunle Somoye is the Special Assistant on Electronic and Broadcast Media –

“Kunle Somoye, 26, is a young media strategist, researcher, and communicator.

“Until this appointment, he was a member the Buhari Presidential Media team and also served the Election and Monitoring Directorate of the APC Presidential Campaign Council. Somoye is a graduate of University of Abuja.

“The Special Assistant on Visual Communication/ Official Photographer – is Ayo Adeagbo

“Ayo Adeagbo, 25, a graduate of University of Ibadan was documentary photographer to former Speaker of Oyo State House of Assembly.

“Adeagbo also served as Assistant Chief Photographer to former Governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi.”

According to the Speaker, the appointments take immediate effect.


https://thenationonlineng.net/gbajabiamila-appoints-media-aides/

Member representing Obokon/Oriade federal constituency of Osun State in the House of Representatives, Hon. Wole Oke, has expressed shock over his suspension by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP).

The PDP NWC, after a meeting on Friday to review issues surrounding the Minority Leadership of the House of Representatives, suspended Hon. Ndudi Elumelu, Hon. Wole Oke, Hon. Lynda Ikpeazu, Hon. Anayo Edwin, Hon. Gideon Gwadi, Hon. Toby Okechukwu and Hon. Adekoya Abdul-Majid.

The PDP alleged that Elumelu, Oke, and others played key roles that resulted in the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, reading another list for Minority Leadership of the House other than the list submitted to him by our party, the PDP.”

Hon. Oke, in a reaction maintained that he followed his conscience and the will of his constituents in his actions since the inauguration of the ninth National Assembly.

In a statement issued to reporters on the issue, Oke said: ”I owe my party and its leaders a duty of care to advise appropriately as one the ranking members of the House. I have discharged that duty.

“I advised my party leaders appropriately about our House Rules provisions about nomination of our Leadership; that PDP alone can’t do it without other eight political parties.

“On Speakership, PDP had no candidate. I followed my conscience, I followed what my Constituents clamoured for. I followed practices and Conventions.”

https://dailypost.ng/2019/07/05/nass-crisis-elumelus-ally-wole-oke-reacts-suspension-pdp/

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to immediately issue a Certificate of Return to Mr Benjamin Uwajumogu, of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as the validly elected Senator representing Imo North Senatorial District.

Justice Taiwo Taiwo who delivered judgment on the application for the release of a certificate of return filed by Mr Uwajumogu, said the decision of INEC to review the outcome of the 2019 Senatorial Election is a contravention of the electoral act.

The court further held that INEC is bound by law to issue the Certificate of Return based on the declaration of the Returning Officer who announced Mr Uwajumogu as the duly elected Senator for Imo North Senatorial District.

Counsel to Mr Uwajumogu applauded the verdict of the court, adding that INEC should implement the order immediately.

“Based on the order, the court said immediately; going by the provision of the electoral act, it ought to be within seven days of the declaration of the result. But for the attitude of INEC, now the court has said the order should be implemented immediately.

“It is another opportunity for us to be happy again that the Judiciary is standing to what they are called to do in our democracy, this is the last hope of the common man, and they have again decided the position of the law as it ought to be. We are happy about it and we believe our opponent will be happy about it because it is about the development of our law,” he added.

The court had on April 9, 20l9, ordered the INEC to stay all further proceedings and actions connected with the declaration of Imo North Senatorial District election results of 23 February and 9 March 2019, pending the determination of the application for prohibition.

INEC had conducted an investigation into allegations of misconduct that played out in the election.


https://www.channelstv.com/2019/07/04/court-orders-inec-to-issue-uwajumogu-a-certificate-of-return/

The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has set up a fact-finding committee on the role played by some of its members at the election of the presiding officers of the National Assembly.

The party disclosed this in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan, on Monday in Abuja.

The Chairman of the Committee, according to Ologbondiyan, is a former President of the Senate, Sen. Adolphus Wabara, and former National Secretary of the party, Prof. Wale Oladipo, as the committee’s Secretary.

Other members of the committee include: Sen. Ibrahim Mantu, Sen. Stella Omu, Mr Austin Opara, Sen. Abdul Ningi, and Mrs Margaret Icheen.

The terms of reference of the committee, according to Ologbondiyan is to find out why some of the PDP lawmakers failed to abide by the decision of the party during the National Assembly leadership election.

It is also to find out whether there was any involvement of the ruling party in the decision taken by the members involved.

“To find out where there are established reasons for taking the action by members, the committee should identify such so that the party can create mutual and political atmosphere for reasonable interaction with senators and Honourable members.

“To find out and recommend ways to checkmate such tendencies in the future and ensure that, moving forward, all members work together to defend the interest of the party at all times and circumstances.”

Ologbondiyan said that the committee was given three weeks from the date of its inauguration to report to the party’s NWC.

The PDP at early hour of the June 11 inauguration of the 9th national assembly announced it endorsement of Sen. Ali Ndume for Senate President and Umar Bago as Speaker of House of Representatives.

The party, in a statement by its National Secretary, Sen. Umar Tsauri, said the decision was reached at the end of a decisive meeting of members of the party’s NWC, leaders, state governors as well as the then senators and members-elect on the platform of the PDP.

Tsauri said the decision was in the best interest of the nation, in line with the party’s determination to deepen democracy, ensure a strong and independent legislature, while advising the then PDP lawmakers-elect to be guided accordingly.

Meanwhile the preferred candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Sen. Ahmed Lawan, emerged as the President of the Senate, and Femi Gbajabiamila as Speaker of the House of Representatives, against the wish of PDP. (NAN)


https://thenationonlineng.net/pdp-constitutes-fact-finding-committee-on-nass-leadership-election/

Olusola424:
And it's obvious that Igbos are betrayers....
Abiola was able to win in just one State there

No be today their quarrel start

Three senators-elect of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were present at an event where Ahmad Lawan unveiled his legislative agenda for the ninth senate.

The event held at Transcorp hotel in Abuja on Friday.

The senator-elects were Abba Moro (Benue south), Clifford Ordia (Edo central) and Mathew Orhoghide (Edo south). Ifeanyi Uba, CEO of Capital Oil, elected on Young Progressive Party (YPP) platform to represent Anambra south, was also in attendance.

Speaking with journalists after the event, Moro, former minister of interior, said he supports Lawan’s vision for the ninth senate.

“I don’t know what you mean by endorsement but I am here to support the project that is being unveiled. If I don’t support him (Lawan), I won’t be here,” he said.

“Lawan has a robust and beautiful resumé. He is one of the longest serving legislators in Nigeria and a leader of the senate. In the present circumstances, given his exposure and plan for the country, you would come to the understanding that Lawan is the best candidate for this job for now.

“I find some attraction and a mixture of chemistry here when I discovered that Lawan has as his theme ‘a system that works for all Nigerians’.”

The former minister said the decision to support the senate leader’s ambition does not amount to him being against his party.

“I joined the PDP in 1998. I was one of the first elected PDP officials as chairman of my local government in 1998,” he said.

“Supporting a candidate of another political party does not mean I am dumping my party. I am not leaving the PDP. It is my platform and I am happy with the ideals of the party.”

Also speaking with journalists, Uba said although he was supporting Lawan for office of senate president, he remains a “bonafide” member of the YPP.

Ordia and Orhoghide did not speak with journalists.

Earlier, Lawan had said under him, the senate would have a cordial relationship with the executive.

“We have seen how unproductive it is to have a rancorous relationship between the arms of government – everybody suffers, most especially the people, even the legislators suffer, even the institutions in the national assembly suffers,” he said.

In the legislative agenda, Lawan promised to open the budget of the national assembly.

He said the senate under him will pursue an “aggressive planning and budget process reform agenda.”

“The 9th senate will pay special attention to the recurring challenge of industrial unrest amongst the staff of the national assembly, legislative aides of senators and the staff of the national assembly,” he said.



https://www.thecable.ng/three-pdp-senators-in-attendance-as-lawan-unveils-agenda-for-ninth-senate

The Minority Leader of the outgoing Eight House of Representatives, Leo Ogor, said on Tuesday that members of the Peoples Democratic Party’s caucus in the green chamber are free to join the campaign trains of the All Progressives Congress members contesting the position of Speaker on June 11.

Ogor, who stated this in his eid-el-fitr message to Nigerians on behalf of his colleagues, however, reiterated his position that the PDP members elect would determine the next Speaker of the Ninth House of Representatives.



He said the decision was taken in the national interest but cautioned his colleagues against any abuse of the directive.

The statement read in part, “While we further our unflinching commitment to the principles and ethos of democracy, the PDP House Caucus has endorsed its members’ decision to work with Speakership aspirants from the ruling party.

“It thereby allows all who feel thus inclined, the freedom to attend all meetings, participate in campaigns, strategy sessions and other activities of any Speakership aspirant of their choice.

“While the PDP House Caucus has taken the decision with clear focus on the national interest as well as the future strategic goals of our party, we are not unaware that a few may unfortunately feel inclined to go overboard.

“They may be nibbling dangerously at carrots dangled before them without adequately heeding appropriate guidelines.

“Nonetheless, such risks have to be taken occasionally as part of the sacrifice for the national interest – an overriding consideration for us in our great party.

“The PDP House Caucus is leaving no stone un-turned in furtherance of its resolute determination to proactively decide the final outcome of the ongoing contest for leadership of the House in ways that would ultimately ensure that the people’s will ultimately prevail.”

https://punchng.com/speakership-pdp-reps-can-join-apc-aspirants-campaign-teams-says-ogor/

A federal lawmaker, Sen. Peter Nwaoboshi has declared support for Sen. Ahamad Lawan’s Senate Presidency bid.

Nwaoboshi(PDP-Delta) made this known while briefing newsmen in Abuja on Friday.

He said from his assessment of all the contenders for the position, Lawan had better credentials.

“In 2015, I made my support clear that I was going to support the incumbent Senate President even before other persons came to join and my prediction came to pass.

“I have called you people again this year to make my position clear because I believe that after the election,what should’ve paramount on my minds is Nigeria.

“Not party, not religious affiliation but what we think is good for Nigeria.

“To that extent I have been thinking, I have been watching all the aspirants and many of them have come to consult with me, speak with me on phone, visited me personally both on the chamber and outside the chamber.

“So, I feel it is necessary for me to make my position clear so that some of these questions people are asking can be resolved.

“Now this is my personal position. When I believe in a cause, I would always work to want to advance that cause.

” For the Senate presidency, I have made it clear to my friends that I will support Sen. Ahmad Lawan for the presidency of the 9th Senate,” he said.

He said his decision was informed by Lawan’s competence, intelligence and ability to carry others along irrespective of party affiliation or ethnicity.

“It is for the following reasons. I have found out that Sen. Lawan has been in the senate for the past 20 years and as such he has gathered a lot of legislative experience in the House of Representatives and in the Senate.

“The president of the senate is the chairman of the national assembly who ought to understand the workings of both chambers and Lawan has experience from both chambers.

“Also as a leader, I found in him competence, intelligence and he appreciates the views of others and he listens to better arguments.

“Any leader who is going to preside on that chamber must be able to accommodate other persons and must be intelligent.

“Make no mistakes, I never supported him in the 8th senate and I had my reasons but I also believe that in this one I am making a good choice in supporting him,” he said.

He cautioned against unguarded statements that might affect the goodwill the senators-elect had for Lawan, adding that it was their prerogative to choose their leaders.

Nwaoboshi stressed that the legislature had its mechanism for choosing and removing its leaders, advising that rather than handing down instructions, stakeholders ought to consult with the lawmakers to be.

He said, “I must give cudos to the APC Deputy Chairman, North, Distinguished Sen. Shuaibu. He made a statement that is consoling, saying leadership must consult and negotiate not to sit in your house and say it must be this person. Nobody is a child.

“That is why you see that even those who support Lawan are withdrawing especially within my party. In as much as we agree that whoever is going to be senate president will come from your party, it is not for you to tell us is this person or he will never have anything to do with us.

That is not statesmanly.We are going to choose our leader and when we found out that the person is no longer serving the Nigerian people, we have our own mechanism.

“The senate is made up of men who have distinguished themselves in their various careers. So you do of sit I’m your office or in your high heaven and dictate to them who is going to be their leader.

“Most of the resistance that people are seeing especially in my own party. It is not because someone is questioning Lawan’s competence that he does not have the experience or intelligence.

“The senate should be left to choose their leader.”

On his victory at the Court of Appeal, Nwaoboshi said he was confident of winning, adding that, “I knew that judgement will not stand.”

He assured that should the matter go up to the Supreme Court, he was sure of victory.

Sen. Ahmad Lawan(APC-Yobe) and Sen. Ali Ndume(APC-), both from the North East, have punlicly indicated interest in running for senate president in the 9th assembly.

They have both been carrying out consultations across parties to garner support for the race.

Meanwhile, Sen. Danjuma Goje(APC-Gombe) has been asked by some interest groups to publicly declare interest in the race though he is yet to so.

There are permutations that the Peoples Democrat Party(PDP) with over 40 senators elect out of 109, would have major say in who emerges senate president.

Political analysts have advised the contenders in the race to reach out to the opposition, saying their votes would go a long way in their winning or losing.


https://thenationonlineng.net/senate-presidency-pdp-senator-declares-support-for-ahmad-lawan/

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, on Saturday alleged that the All Progressives Congress (APC) and some governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) collaborated in a bid to take over the state.

He said this at a thanksgiving service held at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium, Port Harcourt to mark his electoral victory.

“The fight was not just with the opposition. It was also within our party. When we lost the election in Ekiti State, one of our leaders in the South-west said that Fayose is finished and the next person is Wike”, Thisday quoted him as saying.

“Some governors within the party joined forces with the opposition against the State. But then, the will of God prevailed. I was not bothered by what the opposition did, but what some of our party members did was worrisome.

“Some persons working with us in the state betrayed us. They felt there was no way that we would make it. They became agents of the opposition. But God’s intervention rescued Rivers and its people.”

The governor noted that the women of the state, “showed so much concern. Some of them were ready to die because of our election. I do not know how to thank them.

“For the first time, I saw women like Aba Women Riot, coming out to say no and we will not agree. Let me assure you that I will not disappoint the Christian community in Rivers State”.

Wike assured the people of Rivers that he would deliver on his pledges and that his performance will not be affected by the second term syndrome.

He reiterated that he would remain committed to the olive branch that he extended to the opposition in the State.

In attendance were former Rivers State Governor, Chief Peter Odili; the PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, Senator Mao Ohuabunwa and the Presiding Pastor of Salvation Ministries, Pastor David Ibiyeomie.


https://dailypost.ng/2019/05/26/nigeria-election-pdp-govs-worked-apc-rivers-governor-wike/

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The Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, on Wednesday, said his support for the emergence of Femi Gbajabiamila (APC, Lagos) as Speaker of the 9th House of Representatives was “based on capacity, not party lines.‎”

Wike stated this when the Gbajabiamila/Wase campaign team, made up of 110 lawmakers, paid him a courtesy visit at the Government House in Port Harcourt.

The visit was part of the ‎ongoing Gbajabiamila’s South East/South South campaign tour for the Speaker of the House of Representatives, ahead of the inauguration of 9th Assembly.

‎”I don’t support you based on party lines; I support you based on capacity.

“When you get there, we must work as a people; party is just a vehicle to convey you to your political destination.

“Party line is the major reason why Nigeria has not made any progress. It was the reason why our Electoral Act was not assented to,” Wike said.

He further urged Gbajabiamila to put Nigeria first when he emerges as the speaker of the 9th House on June 10.

Earlier, the House Leader had said he possessed the requisite leadership skills and legislative experience to successfully pilot the affairs of the 9th House.

Daily Trust recalls that the ongoing campaign tour of South East/South South zones started on Tuesday in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, through Enugu, Anambra and Imo States.

It continued on Wednesday in Port Harcourt, Rivers States, and is expected to cover the six states in the South South zone.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/speakership-why-im-supporting-gbajabiamila-wike.html

Good

Justice Mary Odili, on Friday, disagreed with six other Justices of the Supreme Court that a suit Cross River State filed to challenge the removal of the former Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Walter Onnoghen, deserved to be struck out.

In a dissenting judgment, Justice Odili, held that contrary to the majority view of other members of a seven-man panel of Justices of the apex court, Cross River State, being where Onnoghen hails from, possessed the locus‎ standi to raise legal questions regarding the suspension and eventual sack of their son as the CJN.

She maintained that since the state raised constitutional questions through its Attorney General, the Supreme Court was an appropriate forum for them to seek answers.

Justice Odili held that the ex-parte order President Muhammadu Buhari relied upon to suspend the former CJN on January 25, was wrongly issued by the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, in Abuja.

She held that the CCT, ab-initio, lacked the requisite jurisdiction to entertain the six-count charge that led to Onnoghen’s conviction.

According to Justice Odili, the entire proceedings before the CCT was invalid considering that the Federal Government, failed to channel allegations it levelled against the ex-CJN to the National Judicial Council, NJC, before it dragged him to court.

Justice Odili held that going by extant judicial precedents, a serving judicial officer could only be tried after the NJC had exercised its disciplinary function.

Meanwhile, earlier in their majority decision, six other Justices of the Supreme Court led by Justice Olabode Rhodes-Vivour, struck out the suit on the premise that Cross River State Government lacked the locus standi to institute the suit on behalf of Onnoghen.

Justice Olulayode Ariwoola who prepared the lead majority judgment, further held that the Supreme Court was not the appropriate forum for the state to ventilate whatever grievances it had with regards to Onnoghen’s removal.

Consequently, Justice Ariwoola struck out the case by upholding a preliminary objection the Attorney-General of the Federation filed to challenge the competence of the suit.

He, therefore, struck out the case without considering its merit on grounds that the Supreme Court lacked jurisdiction to entertain same.

Though Justice Ariwoola was absent on Friday, his judgment was read by Justice Paul Galinje, who was a member of the panel.

Other members of the panel that agreed that the suit deserved to be thrown-out were Justices Dattijo Muhammad, Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, Inyang Okoro and Sidi Bage (now retired).

It will be recalled that Cross River State had shortly after Onnoghen was suspended, approached the Supreme Court to challenge President Buhari’s powers to take such action without recourse to the NJC.

The State invoked section 22 of the Supreme Court Act, which conferred the apex court with original jurisdiction to sit as a court of first instance, on disputes between any State of the Federation and the Federal Government.

Specifically, Cross River State, through the office of its AG, prayed the court to determine whether the suspension or removal of Onnoghen from office by President Buhari, based on an ex-parte order by a lay magistrate (the Chairman of the CCT), was not in gross violation of section 292(1) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

Cited as defendants in the suit were the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Attorney General of the Federation.

In opposition to the suit, FG, through the office of the AGF, argued the Plaintiff lacked the right the suit.

The AGF contended that Onnoghen’s suspension was personal to him and therefore could not be interpreted to amount to a dispute between FG and State Government that would require the invocation of section 22 of the Supreme Court Act.

It will be recalled that the CCT had in a judgment on April 18, found Onnoghen guilty on all the six-count charge the FG preferred against him.

The Mr. Danladi Umar-led three-man panel tribunal said it was satisfied that FG successfully proved its allegation that Onnoghen who had voluntarily resigned his position as CJN on April 4, acted in breach of the code of conduct for public officers in the country.

It held that evidence of three witnesses that testified in the course of the trial, was not discredited by the defendant who was accused of failing to properly declare his assets, as well as operating five domiciliary foreign bank accounts.

The panel maintained that admission by the embattled former CJN that he forgot to declare the five accounts he operated since 2009, was “weighty enough” to guarantee his conviction.

Aside from giving FG the nod to confiscate all the monies in the accounts, the tribunal further deposed Onnoghen as the CJN and Chairman of both the NJC and the Federal Judiciary Service Commission, FJSC.


https://www.vanguardngr.com/2019/05/onnoghen-odili-disagrees-as-s-court-strikes-out-cross-rivers-suit/

The Supreme Court on Friday struck out a suit filed by the Cross River State Government to challenge the suspension of the former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen.

In a split decision of six-to-one of a seven-man panel of the apex court, Justice Olulayode Ariwoola, who prepared the lead majority judgment, held that the Cross River State Government lacked the locus standi to institute the suit on behalf of Onnoghen.



The five-man panel led by Justice Olabode Rhodes-Vivour also held that the Supreme Court was not the appropriate forum to ventilate the whatever grievances the plaintiff might have in connection with the case.

Justice Ariwoola, therefore, struck out the case by upholding the Attorney-General of the Federation’s preliminary objection filed to challenge the competence of the suit.

He, therefore, struck out the case without considering its merit on the grounds that the Supreme Court lacked jurisdiction to hear the case.

Ariwoola, who was absent from the Friday’s proceedings, had his judgment read by Justice Paul Galinje, who is not a member of the panel.

In a MINORITY JUDGEMENT delivered by JUSTICE MARY PETER ODILI in the suit brought by Cross Rivers state government challenging Onnoghen's suspension , Justice Mary Peter-Odilli dissented from the majority judgment by holding that Cross Rivers State, where Onnoghen hails from possessed the locus‎ standi to institute the suit.

She also held that the Supreme Court was an appropriate forum to file the suit, that the court had jurisdiction in the matter and decided to entertain the original application.

The Cross Rivers State Government had demanded the nullification of the January 25 suspension of Mr Onnoghen, citing violations of the constitutional provisions.

In the dissenting judgement, Mrs Odili agreed with the submissions of the Cross Rivers State Government and allowed their application.

She ruled that the January 23, 2019 order issued by the Code of Conduct Tribunal on which President Muhamadu Buhari acted on to suspend‎ Onnoghen was wrong as the tribunal had no jurisdiction to entertain the charges instituted the erstwhile CJN in the first place.

She held that not having been first disciplined by the National Judicial Council, the CCT lacked jurisdiction to ‎hear the false and non-declaration of assets charges instituted against Onnoghen.

https://punchng.com/breaking-supreme-court-strikes-out-cross-rivers-suit-on-onnoghen/

Senator Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom North West) has accused his opponents of using his name to intimidate judges of the election tribunal.

According to him, his opponents have started ascribing false and malicious statements to him to paint him in bad light before the tribunal.

A statement by his media aide, Anietie Ekong, described as ‘unfortunate’, ongoing propaganda that Akpabio vowed to secure victory at the Appeal Court if the tribunal refused to deliver judgment in his favour.

The statement reads: “The attention of Senator Godswill Akpabio has been drawn to malicious news titled: “I will win at Appeal if tribunal judges refuse to perform”, with an equally malicious rider “says Appeal Court President in his palms”.

“We state categorically that Senator Akpabio never uttered those words. The article is political propaganda manufactured from the pit of hell. The obvious objective of this ill-advised article is to intimidate and blackmail members of the Akwa Ibom State election tribunal and sway them from the course of justice.”

Ekong affirmed that nothing would stop the Senator from seeking redress in court for the ‘brazen robbery’ of his mandate which the people of Akwa Ibom North West gave him.

“It is not just about Senator Godswill Akpabio. The right of the people of Akwa Ibom North West to freely choose their leader cannot be mortgaged. This is why Senator Akpabio has chosen the path of due process by challenging the electoral heist of February 23. Such daylight robbery cannot stand.

“The tribunal will have no inhibition upturning the shambolic election. This is why his opponents are in panic. The Senator has implicit confidence in the judiciary to dispense justice without fear or intimidation,” he added.

http://thenationonlineng.net/akpabio-opponents-using-my-name-to-intimidate-tribunal/

And still they say PMB is not working

Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, has commended the Federal Government for awarding a contract for the construction of the Nenwe-Nomeh-Mburumbu-Nara road in Enugu State.

Speaking when he inspected ongoing work on the road, Ekweremadu noted that the project would boost economic activities in some rural, agrarian communities in the state.

According to him, farmers in rural communities experience difficulties in transporting farm produce to urban areas due to the absence of access roads.

“It is well known that the beneficiary communities of this road project are food baskets that are especially good at rice production and palm produce.

“They also are also very good at groundnuts, palm cassava, fruits, and so many others. They are capable of hosting value-adding companies to farm products.

“Unfortunately, there has been no access road to evacuate their farm produce or encourage value-adding firms to set up around the communities to boost agriculture and help diversify the economy and create employment.

“Lack of access road has resulted in wastage and economic loses.

“We approached the Federal Government with a request to construct this vital road and we have been on it for some years now.

“Today, we are happy that the Federal Government has made good its promise to construct the road to boost agriculture and economic diversification agenda.

“We believe it will be concluded within the scheduled time frame to open up these food baskets to the rest of the nation and investors,” the Deputy Senate President said.

The Controller of Works for Enugu State in the Federal Ministry of Power, Works, and Housing, Works, Engr. Oluropo Oyetade, represented by the Resident Engineer, Engr. Clement Ogbuagu, said the Federal Government was committed to extending the dividends of democracy to every part of the country.

Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Works, Toby Okechukwu, representing Aninri/Awgu/Oji River Federal Constituency, noted that the Nenwe-Nomeh-Mburumbu-Nara road project was one of the ongoing Federal Government road projects in Enugu State.

https://punchng.com/ekweremadu-commends-fg-for-road-project/

You are cordially invited

You are Welcome

Preparation for the 11th Colloquium

Some hours to 11TH BOLA TINUBU COLLOQUIUM.

THEME: "Working For The People"

VENUE: The Abuja International Conference Centre.

DATE: 28th March 2019.

HAPPY 67TH BIRTHDAY JAGABAN

Ifeanyi Ubah, senator who won the election Anambra south election on the platform of the Young Peoples Party (YPP) has dumped the party for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

This is coming four days after he denied plans to dump the party.

Adams Oshiomhole, national chairman of the APC, announced Ubah’s membership of the ruling party at a meeting President Muhammadu Buhari had with APC senators-elect in Aso Rock on Monday night.

At a press conference on Friday, Ubah had said: “I am not yet ready to defect from the YPP. I am still in the YPP. In party business, you can’t determine what would happen next. Sometimes you wake up and you will start seeing one problem or the other. For me today, I am in the YPP and I hope to remain in the party.

“The YPP is bringing a revolution of change to Nigeria. I must join a progressive group in the Senate since I cannot be alone. The YPP is the party to beat in this country. I won my election without the party having an office in any part of Anambra State.”

Governors present at the meeting were Akinwunmi Ambode (Lagos), Nasir el-Rufai (Kaduna), Yahaya Bello (Kogi), Simon Lalong (Plateau), Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi) and Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara).

Others were Badaru Abubakar (Jigawa), Ibrahim Gaidam (Yobe), Kashim Shettina (Borno), and Gboyega Oyetala (Osun).

https://www.thecable.ng/ifeanyi-ubah-dumps-ypp-joins-apc/amp

Ok

Who else is seeing what am seeing? It seems this was the plan all along.... No wonder they wanted Atiku out of the way and they are not so much bothered about what kwankwaso is currently going through in the hands of Ganduje since it fits into their 2023 agenda.

Kwankwaso too I strongly believe sabotaged Atiku in the last presidential elections to further boost his 2023 ambition. This explains why he is currently battling to regain the state as to remain relevant.

Atiku's 2019 presidency would have scuttled all this plans. Finally I also think that they are happy with the fall of Saraki he could have also posed threat to their 2023 plans.

Mmmmmh

This is the biggest joke of the year. What do you think?