Changing PDP rules all the time will not change much

The PDP Governors don't respect Jonathan because they know he has no clue
Jonathan is not a real leader and the order of PDP primaries will not change that fact.

He should improve on his economics, and grasp of the issues and people will take him more seriously.

Swapping PDP primaries and change the rules all the time makes no difference.
If the Governors don't support him what will he do? Unsit all the PDP Governors that don't support him? That will be some insane and unachievable adventure.

Why PDP cancelled staggered presidential primaries
By olusola fabiyi, Emma Obe, JUDE WUAMANAM, francis falola, Olalekan Adetayo, james Azania and Ozioma Ubabukoh
Sunday, 12 Dec 2010


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PDP National Chairman, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo

Facts emerged in Abuja on Saturday on why the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party changed its initial plan to hold staggered presidential primaries.



The party‘s presidential primaries, which were scheduled for the six geo-political zones, were billed to hold on January 11, 12 and 13, 2011, and end with the ratification of the national convention on January 15 in Abuja.



However, our correspondent gathered that the decision was changed during high-level discussions involving the decision-making organs of the party in Abuja on Tuesday and Wednesday.



The meetings did away with the idea of a staggered primaries and agreed that the convention should now hold in Abuja on January 9, 2011.



The national caucus of the party and its board of trustees were two of the organs that met in Abuja.



A member of the National Working Committee, who spoke with our correspondent on the condition of anonymity on Saturday evening, said there were security reports that showed that some governors who had pledged support for President Goodluck Jonathan were not “sincere”.



“The reports accused some of the PDP governors of playing politics with their support for President Jonathan, saying it could be difficult to count on their support during the staggered primary elections in the six geo-political zones,” the NWC member said.



Although nearly all the PDP governors are believed to have assured Jonathan of their support, a few of them, from the North, are under pressure to support the emergence of a presidential candidate from the region.



SUNDAY PUNCH gathered that the party also took the decision to checkmate any plan by aspirants to use money to “buy delegates”. The party, the source said, felt that a one-day convention would minimise the use of money to influence the delegates.



”This was why we agreed to the return of the norm within the PDP, which is a single-day convention to be held in Abuja on January 9, 2011,” the source added.



Meanwhile, less than two months to the 2011 elections, SUNDAY PUNCH findings have revealed that the analysts say the PDP may lose six out of its 27 states to opposition parties.



The states where the party may lose control to other political parties, due to internal crises, are Enugu, Ogun, Oyo, Plateau, Kogi and Delta. In Anambra and Edo states where the PDP is very popular, the state chapters are also crisis prone.



Investigations by our correspondents on Friday showed that the PDP chapters in the six states are torn by internal crises, court cases, factionalisation and lack of internal cohesion.



For instance, in many of the states, there are already parallel executive committees, with each leadership having its sets of aspirants –– a development that analysts say opposition parties may fully exploit in the 2011 elections.



In Anambra State the secretariats of the two factions have remained closed despite the increasing tempo of political activities in the state in the countdown to the general election.



While the Emma Nweke-led faction was constituted by the Zonal Working Committee under the directive of the National Working Committee, the Benji Udeozor-led faction is holding tight to a court judgment, which did not only recognise it, but also asked the NWC to deal with it.



Nweke, who spoke to one of our correspondents, said all his group was just waiting for was for the National Executive Committee to issue guidelines for it to start the process of nominating candidates.



Udeozor, who was in Abuja when our correspondent called him, said his group was waiting for a pronouncement by the NWC on the recognition accorded his executive committee by the court and the Independent National Electoral Commission.



In the meantime, the party has been losing its prominent members to the All Progressive Grand Alliance.



In Oyo State, there are currently two factions of the party. One of them is led by Chief Dejo Afolabi, while the other, known as the Implementation Committee, is led by Alhaji Yunus Akintunde.



The Implementation Committee was reportedly established as a fallout of the Ike Nwachukwu-led committee report on the crisis in the state chapter of the party.



The Afolabi-led group seems to be in control of the party machinery, as it enjoys the support of Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala.



The group operates from the party state secretariat in Mokola, while the Akintunde group has opened a parallel secretariat off the Old Ife Road in the state capital.



The Akintunde group enjoys the support of the Senate Leader, Mr. Teslim Folarin; former Governor Rashidi Ladoja; Senator Lekan Balogun; former Minister, Wole Oyelese; the Chairman, House of Representatives’ Committee on Appropriation, Mr. Ayo Adeseun; and another member of the House from the state, Mr. Kamil Akinlabi.



All efforts aimed at reconciling the factions, especially as the 2011 elections draw nearer, have not yielded any positive result, as members of each faction stuck to their guns.



In Plateau State, the crisis in the party appeared to be getting worse, as both sides are unrelenting in their quest to control the party machinery.



Efforts to reconcile the two groups, including a power- sharing agreement, SUNDAY PUNCH learnt, had failed.



A faction loyal to Governor Jonah Jang, and basking in the euphoria of a recent Appeal Court judgment which affirmed its leadership of the party in the state, is making all efforts to solidify its hold.



However, the opposition members in the party are pushing for a congress, alleging that INEC did not recognise the current executive.



INEC had, in one of its letters with regard to the state, said it was waiting for the verdict of the court in respect of the appeal filed by the NWC and the caretaker committee against the judgment of a high court, which invalidated the sacking of the Prof. Dakum Shown-led executive and the setting up of the Abu King Shulluwa-led caretaker committee by the NWC.



SUNDAY PUNCH gathered that it was during the crisis that Shown was forced to resign, while the state government appointed Mr. Haruna Dabin as the new chairman.



The state secretary, Mr. Daniel Dakim, told our correspondent that the party had communicated the verdict of the court to both INEC and headquarters of the party.



But a member of the opposition and former Minister of State, Information and Communications, Alhaji Dasuki Nakande, and the Publicity Secretary of the caretaker committee, Mr. Sylvanus Namang, said the other faction misinterpreted the court verdict.



From Enugu, a factional chairman of the party, Mr. Reuben Ochi, told our correspondent on Friday that the way to resolve the crisis in the state was to conduct a fresh congress in line with the decision of the NWC.



Besides, he alleged, Governor Sullivan Chime and his supporters, including the chairman of the other faction, Mr. Vita Abba, might have concluded plans to pursue their aspirations on the platform of the Action Congress of Nigeria.



The younger brother to the PDP national chairman, Chief Nnia Nwodo, confirmed this, saying, Chime and his group did not have the structure of the party in the state.



But when our correspondent approached Abba, he said, “The case is in court; it won‘t be proper to pass any comment. I want to refrain from making any comment until the matter is resolved by the appeal court.”



Investigations by our correspondent in Ogun State showed that the party was factionalised between the group headed by the Minister for Commerce, Chief Jibril Martins Kuye and Governor Gbenga Daniel.



The appointment of Daniel as the South West coordinator of the Goodluck/Sambo Presidential Campaign and the close rapport between the governor and the Presidency, had been a source of concern to the aggrieved members of the opposition group within the PDP.



However, PDP Director of Publicity in the state, Mr. Deji Kalejaiye, who spoke to our correspondent in Abeokuta, denied that the party was divided.



In Edo State, Chief Sunny Uyigue leads a faction, while Chief Dan Orbih leads another. Efforts made to reconcile the warring factions by a former governor of the state and a PDP stalwart, Dr. Sam Ogbemudia, failed when the feuding groups launched fresh battles in Edo South and Edo North.



In Edo North, a faction had proclaimed Chief of Staff to President Goodluck Jonathan, Mike Ogiadhome, as its leader, which drew the ire of a group loyal to a former Chief of General Staff, Admiral Mike Akhigbe (retd).



Meanwhile, the PDP National Chairman, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, has declared that these internal wrangling would not affect the fortune of the party in the 2011 poll.



Nwodo who spoke through is his Special Adviser, Mr. Ike Abonyi, said the party would make further inroads in next year’s election.







http://nigeriamasterweb.com/paperfrmes.html

krendo:

May be just may be this is the best combination to get this country out of the woods

I can agree with this combination being the best PDP can offer for now, but I will wait to see other candidates from other parties before I make my mind up.

Atiku is clearly promoting himself as a Pro_business leader.

And this is simply how to create jobs for the teaming youths. By attracting Businesses with cheaper taxes.

In a country where business are already hurting due to high energy bills and insecurity; what is the point of having a 30% tax rate?

Atiku Abubakar, Presidential Candidate of Nigeria, Speaks at Hult International Business School


LONDON, December 3, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of Nigeria, addressed students, industry leaders, and the press on the topic of "Emerging Markets Post 2008." The consensus candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has promised to lower corporate tax from the current high of 30 percent to a mere 10 percent.

The former Vice President of Nigeria attested that his administration would create a solid foundation for Nigeria to become resistant to future crisis. Mr. Abubakar declared that he "would seek to deepen regional integration and diversify national economies to be globally competitive."

As part of his plan to strengthen Nigeria's economy, Mr. Abubakar will focus on creating an environment for international private capital to flow, and remain in Nigeria. Specifically, he said, "we want to make Nigeria a preferred location for FDI in the world. Nigeria along with Africa can provide some of the highest rates of return on investment and we must exploit this." Mr. Abubkar also affirmed that the customs clearance system would be overhauled to turn around imports within 48 hours.

If elected in 2011, Abubakar aims to ensure double digit growth and the creation of millions of jobs. He aspires to make "Nigeria Africa's financial hub," and stresses that if Nigeria does not survive economically then sub-Saharan Africa will not survive.

"We are pleased to welcome high-caliber political figures to our campuses to share their perspectives of the world economy with our students," said Dr. Stephen Hodges, President of Hult.

Additionally, Mr. Abubakar promised that Nigeria would actively work with other emerging markets in order to accelerate the acceptance of reforms targeted at the financial and monetary systems. He acknowledged that at the moment there is a "lack of political will to make progress," and he believes that only a globally coordinated organization could inhibit future crisis.

About Hult International Business School:

Hult International Business School (formerly known as the Arthur D. Little School of Management) is the first global business school with campuses in Boston, San Francisco, London, Dubai, and Shanghai. The School offers a range of business-focused programs including MBA, Master and Undergraduate degrees. Hult's one-year MBA program is ranked in the top 30 in the world by The Economist and amongst the top 100 by the Financial Times.http://www.hult.edu


SOURCE Hult International Business School

If you institutionalize a rigorous election programme

where candidates declare on time, engage in life debates, tell us where they stand phylosophically, conducts steady press conferences defending and responding to events in the polity.

Even if you zone power to just one state under this condition we will produce a world class leader.

But if you have a system where people run for the Presidency and yet hide in their bedrooms and then a winner will emerge. Even if you ask the whole of Africa to participate in that election, on those who have connections and no how to play the game of rigging in Nigeria will emerge.

At least we are not fighting wars after election.

Trust me there are well qualified Presidential materials in every zone at each time.

If we honestly want the best we can find at least 3 good leadership materials in each zone.

We just refuse to seek the best.

Zoning is not the problem, refusal to demand the best is.

The parties that don't have a zoning policy don't even have the best candidates they can have.

Stop abusing everybody on this site ok?

You are turning a nuisance to everyone

including yourself

can't you post your argument without getting personal?

This forum is not for under 18s please!!!!!!!!!!

Zoning is why after the PDP rigging, there was no ethnic war because supporters of Buhari can not possibly attack supporters of Yar'adua or Atiku

And Supporters of Olu Falae can not possibly attack supporters of OBJ based on one ethnic group maltreating the other during elections.

So folks, zoning is not best practice but in Nigeria; for now it works.

Political climbdowns are not usually very specific

but every honest person knows that this latest proclamation from the Jonathan camp is a climb down from all that has been said from their camp against Atiku.

From Aganga calling Atiku ignorant on economics, to the Facebook comment.

It is a climbdown after realising misteps.

Hausa Fulani candidate

That is why Bukola Saraki and IBB did not qualify.

Anybody who is not Hausa Fulani should not vote this guy.

Adamu Ciroma and co have chosen their own candidate, it is time fore the rest of us to choose our own candidate.

"You don't take the worst case scenario and present it as the probable, thats what he did and I find that unfortunate" ------

Those are Odein Ajumogbia's response to what John Cambell had to say about 2011.

[flash=480,270]http://www.unmultimedia.org/tv/webcast/2010/09/full/pc100921am2.jpg&autostart=false&controlbar=over&start=0&duration=1570&dock=true&stretching=uniform&streamer=rtmp://cp8784.edgefcs.net/ondemand"[/flash]


http://www.unmultimedia.org/tv/webcast/2010/09/press-conference-h-e-mr-henry-odein-ajumogobia-foreign-minister-of-nigeria.html

Another press briefing at the UN by the Foreign Minister

He talked about the row with Iran, the referendum in Sudan and what it may mean for Nigeria.

[flash=480,270]http://www.unmultimedia.org/tv/webcast/swfs/player.swf[/flash]


http://www.unmultimedia.org/tv/webcast/2010/11/security-council-media-stakeout-nigeria-the-situation-in-the-sudan-and-other-matters.html

Appologies for the video that was not working.

However see link above.

[flash=200,200]http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f8/1705667530" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" flashvars="videoId=424660495001  [/flash]

Buhari will clearly need an interpreter to communicate with the Nation.

I regret to say the Government amnesty has failed.

Ibime:

Ariaria analysts spewing bunkum above. Don't worry, banks will soon come on roadshow to your market to fleece you and your naïve cohorts into buying overbloated stocks. , just like they did in times past. Then they will have capital to lend. Hehehehehe.

You need to do better than that.

It seems Sanusi know how to do nothing else but doom and gloom economics.

[size=18pt]Banks are still not lending [/size]

By Oluwaseyi Bangudu


October 26, 2010 01:11AM
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Despite relative stability and gradual return to profit, banks' third quarter results show that they are still reluctant to expand their asset creation in respect to loan grants, especially to the private sector.


"An analysis of the key parameters on the balance sheet shows that UBA total assets remained relatively flat, declining marginally by 0.4 percent," Afrinvest, an investment banking and research firm, said.

"We also observed a decline in the bank's lending activities in quarter three. The bank's loan portfolio was subsequently down by 4.2 percent to N636.2 billion, from the N664.2 billion reported in quarter two 2010," the firm added.

"The bank's inability to grow its loan book during the quarter led to a slow growth in net interest income. The Q3 net interest income of N27.1 billion falls short of an average of N33.9 billion reported in Q1 and Q2. We expect the bank to be more aggressive in its risk generation appetite and also channel more of its assets into higher income earning assets.

"Currently, 24.2 percent (N402.5 billion) of the bank's total assets are placed in the inter-bank market where yields were an average of 7.9 percent during the quarter," the firm further said.

Guaranty Trust Bank's third quarter result, however, reveals that loans and advances to customers increased to N545 billion, from N532 billion at the end of quarter two, 2010.

Central Bank's policy not reflecting

Samir Gadio, emerging Markets Strategist, Standard Bank, said the Central Bank's accommodative policy stance between 2009 and September 2010 has not really reflected in lending to the real sector.

"According to the Central Bank, the growth rate in credit to the private sector fell to a record low of 4.5 percent year on year (y/y ) in August, from 9.8 percent y/y in July and 18.1 percent y/y in June. Although aggregate private sector credit extension edged up 2.0 percent in monthly terms to N10.1trillion, from N9.9 trillion in July, it has only increased 0.4 percent year to date (Ytd).

"This means the Central Bank's accommodative policy stance between 2009 and September 2010 has not resulted in a turnaround in lending to the real economy, which we think reflects the intrinsic weakness of the monetary transmission mechanism, amid structural issues in the banking system," Mr. Gadio said.

Experts have said the tightening in monetary conditions during the last Monetary Policy Committee, held in September, is likely to further impact credit dynamics as the Central Bank hiked the standing deposit facility by 225 basis points (bpts) to 3.25 percent. This, they say, may curtail liquidity and place upward pressure on money market rates.

However, a source at Spring Bank said the bank's lending is fast improving.

"I can't speak for other banks, but I know Spring Bank is lending. Even if you want a loan, just come to the bank and get a form. Once you meet with the basic requirements, why won't you get a loan?" he said.



http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/Money/5634636-147/banks_are_still_not_lending_.csp

I don't how much Uzo or Ralph was paid but they should advance their personal agenda through other means

People should leave ethnicity and tribalism out of politics

Ohaneze Ndigbo should not endorse anybody.

The clear truth in this election is that no ethnic group is solidly behind anybody be it Jonathan or IBB

The North can't even select a concensus candidate.

You are not a Northerner.

stop telling lies.

The PDP wheels begining to fall off

I only wish there is a law mandating all who get elected on any party platform to relinquish the position if the choose to leave the party.

Beacause PDP will loose elections in so many states in 2011 but there will still be victors running back to PDP after elections.

There is no need celebrating victory on Sanusi's policies, how is the economy doing, how about those who lost jobs due to Sanusi's panic attack? have they found work yet? how about our difficulties accessing credit abroad? is our credit rating any better? how about the criminalisation of lending? are our banks lending to small businesses again?

Sending Cecielia Ibru to jail is not a Macro-Economic index, if Sanusi thinks he has won his fight because Ibru and co are to go to jail then clearly he mis-understands his job description.

Lets not get carried away brothers. Sanusi has a lot of work to do, the economy is hurting due to his unprofessional behaviour and he has not done much to turn the corner.

Lawmakers summon finance minister over budget funding

By Ini Ekott


October 21, 2010 01:07AM
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http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/Metro/Politics/5632883-147/lawmakers_summon_finance_minister_over_budget.csp

The House of Representatives has ordered the minister of finance, Olusegun Aganga, to appear before it today to explain why funding for capital projects has averaged only 30%, barely two months to the end of the year.

The lawmakers said Mr. Aganga must offer the explanations before general session of the House and not a specific committee as is usually the case.

Ahead of elections next year, lawmakers desperate to showcase their achievements to the electorate are complaining that the federal government's implementation of capital budget has again failed due to poor funding by the ministry of finance.

"All road contracts from Bauchi to Owerri have been suspended because the contractors have not been paid," said Mohammed Ndume, the House minority leader, who moved the motion yesterday.

"By the time our people ask which projects were attracted to our areas, what are we going to say? These projects are not there, and if they are there, they have been stopped and yet our salaries are not stopped. The salaries of the presidency have not been stopped."

Members said according to figures from offices in charge of various projects, while funding for the huge recurrent expenditure which annually saps federal revenues have remained atop 70%, those for the capital projects stay between 10% and 30%.

Mr. Aganga is said to have confirmed the amount to the lawmakers, acknowledging that N3.2 trillion has been released for recurrent expenditure so far out of the total N4.6trillion budget.

"We here at the legislature, the executive and the presidency, are the only ones affected by the releases so far," Mr. Ndume said.

The figures sparked outrage amongst members who condemned government's low spending on developmental projects, and admitted that the criticisms have become routine yearly.

The House voted to refuse approval for next year's budget, until the previous proposals have been satisfactorily executed.

"Since 2003 that I have been in this house, every year we complain about budget implementation. Can the federal government tell us why we need to bring this issue every year? Are we serving Nigeria or are we serving ourselves?" asked Samson Positive, who represents Kogi State.

Falling federal revenue

At $67 per barrel of crude oil benchmark approved for this year's budget, and an unstable oil production in the Niger Delta, the federal government has complained about a falling funding and has stated its difficulty in implementing projects inserted into the budget by lawmakers during appropriation.

In separate letters to the lawmakers, President Goodluck Jonathan has argued for a revision of the benchmark and alternative sourcing of funds. The chairman House committee of Finance, John Enoh, supported that claim yesterday and staged a lone walk out after failing to dissuade his colleagues from taking a hard-line position against the executive. He said based several interactions with Mr. Aganga, his committee has confirmed that various revenues targets of the FG have not been met.

"The daily oil production quotas have not been reached in spite of the amnesty. It is expected that it will take a while for government to fully reach benefit from the programme," he said.

Current production is said to be at 2.25million barrels a day.

In approving the order to suspend further appropriations, and to summon the Finance minister, the deputy speaker, Usman Nafada, said the benchmark for the budget was reached after a petroleum minister, assured the National Assembly that government can "comfortably" produce 2.35million barrels a day against 2.4 million proposed by the lawmakers.

"For them to now come and say they cannot produce that is simply unacceptable," Mr. Nafada said. He said however, if there were shortfalls, the over $15 differential currently derived as excess sales per barrel should cover for the falling mark.

"Oil is selling now for over $80 per barrel that should take care of the shortfall. If they cannot implement the capital, they should not implement the recurrent, you should not pay salaries."

Thanks to our honourable lawmakers.

[size=18pt]Reps oppose, defer approval of $4.455 foreign debt[/size]

Headlines Oct 19, 2010 By Tordue Salem

ABUJA -The House of Representatives, Tuesday, stood down a motion seeking the National Assembly’s approval of cumulative foreign loan approval of over US$900million.

The Speaker, Dimeji Bankole had summarily and abruptly suspended a resolution on the motion as majority of the members opposed the loan proposal in its entirety.

Over US$300million of the said loan had earlier in the year been approved by the chambers of the National Assembly, with an outstanding of about US$507million, which was approved in installments, leaving a fresh loan proposal of US$4.455 billion, which was Tuesday shelved by the green chamber after majority of the members kicked against its terms and the negative implications for the Country’s economy which is already in dire straits.


President Jonathan wrote the House of Representatives last week, seeking for its approval pursuant to section 21 of the Debt Management Office Act to borrow a total sum of $4.455 billion from 7 Foreign Development Agencies to fund power and sundry projects.

He wrote that, the outstanding $2.455 billion if approved, will go for Gas Pipe Line projects to shore up the Country’s electricity generating capacity. among other projects.

“I write to draw your attention to the 2010 External borrowing plan which I forwarded to the National Assembly in April, 2010 for your consideration along with the 2010 budget proposals, which was graciously approved by the Senate and the House resolutions 85 of Tuesday 27th April, 2010 and 92 of Thursday 22nd April, 201o respectively”’ the letter read in part.

According to the President, “The borrowing plan was segmented for purposes of comprehension into three broad category namely, projects that had been negotiated and those that were being appraised as well as the pipeline projects/programmes”. “

“The sum total for the negotiated projects stood at $1.854 billion and that of the appraised project was $1,073.2 million while $2.415 billion represented the sum of Pipe line Projects”, the letter reads on. The there category of projects come to a total of $5.242 billion”, the President wrote.

He explained that, “You may please recalled that in consideration of the 2010 budget in conjunction of the afore-mention borrowing plan, the National Assembly graciously approved only the International Development Association (IDA) component of the negotiated projects in the sum of $ 915.million out of $1,073.2 million for appraised projects and $2.415 billion for pipeline projects the entire balance now remaining for National Assembly’s approval is $4.427billion”, adding that,

“There is no doubt that the approval given on the component of the negotiated project would impact tremendous on the provision of critical infrastructure which the country is in dire need to jump start the engine of economic growth and improve the living standards of the citizens.

He buttressed “It is pertinent to add that the proposed loans are highly concessionary credit facilities which the country needs to access in order to develop our infrastructure and create employment opportunities.

“I have directed the Honourable Minister of Finance to effectively monitor the various projects to ensure that the funds are judiciously utilized and that there is value for money”.

But majority of the members of the National Assembly, said the proposal must not be approved. “Our own Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has warned us not to return to foreign borrowing, so we must be careful the way we are passing resolutions. We know how much suffering it took us to pull out of the Paris Club creditors, so there is a need to be careful”, Rep. Abike Dabiri warned.

Her colleague, Rep. Ita Enang described most of the projects in the borrowing plan, earmarked for funding as “unnecessary”, and queried the Presidency for failing to account for all the monies withdrawn from the Excess Crude Account and other accounts.

Several other members opposed the motion, which was read by the Leader of the House except, a few who sought its express approval by the lawmakers.

Some have clearly forgotten that democracy is a game of numbers and that we can not force Goodluck down the throat of Nigerians.

Na wa oh!!!! why Presido they fall our hand like this now?

As him no sabi talk make he keep quiet now.

U know he looked very brilliant when he was mute . . . . lol ;

Beaf:

Na those "fake" body movement de guy take swav una cabal enter gutter!!

Nigerian people resisted the Cabal

Jonathan simply did nothing. He simply kept mute and did nothing.

It is possible to defeat a cabal like that but it is simply not possible to win a free and fair election like that.