₦airaland Forum

Ahead of the scheduled Presidential Convention of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, there is now intense lobby by certain elements in the party to get its hierarchy to jettison zoning and throw open, the presidential contest.

Critical stakeholders of the party had, in the run-up to the last National Convention, reached an understanding that the presidential ticket should be ceded to the South while the North would take the national chairmanship of the party.

Although the Senator Abdullahi Adamu-led National Working Committee (NWC) said it has not deliberated on the issue of zoning, it was learned that some pro-northern forces have been scheming to retain the presidency in the zone.

Some of those promoting the agenda, Sunday Vanguard learned, had been engaged in a series of meetings with some governors from the zone.

“They have gotten the buy-in of some of the governors, especially those who are not angling to be presidential running mates.

“The move is being resisted by some influential traditional rulers in the region including some in President Buhari’s home state, Katsina, but the promoters of an open contest are not relenting as they have intensified efforts to get more governors on their side in order to arm-twist the parry leadership in their direction”, said an aide to one of the northern governors who said his principal does not support the move.

Sunday Vanguard however learned that in order to deflect attention from itself, the NWC might be constrained to set up a committee on zoning in the coming days.

“There is really no clear-cut position on zoning even as we know it is not in the law. However, it is the thinking of some of us in the party bureaucracy that the NWC should set up a committee in that regard. When they (NWC) meet next week, we hope they will ask for our inputs and then we will advise that they set up such a committee as they did in the lead up to the last national convention”, said a party official.

Meanwhile, concerned stakeholders of the party under the aegis of APC Rebirth Group have called on the party’s National Chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu to review some of the forms accompanying the nomination and expression of interest forms being purchased by aspirants in the party ahead of the 2023 elections.

The group, which noted specifically its concerns regarding the form 18 tagged, ‘withdrawal letter,’ said such document curtails the freedom of aspirants to pursue their aspirations without any form of coercion.

“The form 18 which seeks for aspirants’ voluntary withdrawal ahead of the primaries in which they will be taking part amounts to tacit coercion and violation of the freedom of aspirants to freely decide on their own. At what point, for instance, would the party activate the signed form of withdrawal by aspirants? Anticipated withdrawal from an election that has not yet been conducted, such as the one being solicited via form 18, would not give aspirants the needed confidence in the process, and the party would do well not to give the impression that it is working to suppress the rights of members to fair and transparent contest”, said Convener of the group, Aliyu Audu.

The stakeholders said while the party, through its secretary, Senator Iyiola Omisore, did say the signing of form 18 was optional, the fact that such caveat was not indicated on the form makes such claim highly suspect.

“Moreover, once an aspirant appends his signature to the declaration page of the form, he has inadvertently validated all the information or commitments on any part of the form. We are therefore calling on the party to clarify its position on this contentious issue of form 18 in particular in order to reassure aspirants of the party.

“The APC Rebirth Group would also like to use this opportunity to call on the party to take a definitive position as regards section 84 (12) of the amended Electoral Act which requires appointees of government seeking elective positions to resign before taking part in the primaries. This is necessary in order for the APC not to create an impression of wanting to reap off aspirants before taking a decision. It’s also necessary that we do this on time so that the party does not fall into the avoidable situation of contravening an important provision of the Electoral Act.

“Already, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila has pointed out the likely consequence of fielding candidates who refuse to comply with this requirements of our electoral law. It’s therefore our hope that the party would listen to voices of reasons and state its position on this important subject clearly and without any form of equivocation”, the stakeholders added.

Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has endorsed Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his deputy Femi Hamzat for a second term.

Mr Tinubu held up both men’s hand after a Lagos APC stakeholders meeting held at the Adeyemi Bero in the Alausa area of the State.

There had been speculations that Mr Sanwo-Olu wasn’t guaranteed a second term ticket of the party.

But Mr Tinubu’s endorsement may have put paid to such rumours.

Mr Tinubu, who is also vying to fly the APC’s flags in the upcoming presidential elections is a former Lagos State Governor and popularly believed to be the state’s ultimate political godfather.

fergie001:
It was a straightforward judgement.

I have watched videos of Tinubu speaking, and I am overwhelmed by emotions owing to his frailty, inability to focus; lack of articulation and presence of mind, slurred speech and integral disconnection from subject matters. Tinubu presidency should have come 15 years ago.

garfield1:
You no sabi law at all.stop embarrassing yourself.upon all fergie001 has explained, you are still misyarning

fergie001:
This case is DoA:

1. Ndukwe lacks the locus standi to institute same.
2. This case is non-justiceable.
3. By virtue of s84(15), the Court lacks jurisdiction.

Case dismissed.

Mooh247:
Lol and if my sister doesn't work with state government let Ogun kill the liar

My Sister is a British Lawyer in United Kingdom

And I am very proud of her

My second sister is the proud owner of a UK logistics company cloud frieghts

Naso una go they lie over Politician wey no Sabi una

Mooh247:
You and who is hiding

I am Safiu Muhammed Oyedele a web developer and freelancer , from Ibadan Oyo State

Why I go hide when I no be Criminal

Mooh247:
Shut your mouth , who you know?! If you do then you will know I am full blooded Ibadan Omo ajorosun, son of a mogaji from Balogun lineage

Some of you are simply ridiculous.... Peter Obi Na your father Abi he Sabi your mama?! Why you con dey cry like pikin

Mooh247:
[s]
An if I am from Ibadan Oyo State what should happen to you[/s]

Penguin2:
Even me eye yam not understanding the contradictions

Maxymilliano:
But there was a contradictory report two days ago on the purported disqualification of Ozigbo and few other aspirants, leaving out Chris Uba, Stella Odua and Uche Ekwunife as cleared candidates

fergie001:
Only the SC can settle this issue. vicdom could've been right!



I think the Ministers are right not to resign.

There is uneasy calm in the All Progressives Congress (APC) over an alleged plot to throw open the presidential ticket.

Some presidential aspirants are believed to be pushing for an all-comers contest.

This is believed to be part of the new scheming to shortchange the Southwest.

It was gathered that part of the anti-Southwest agenda is the plot to drag ex-President Goodluck Jonathan into the race with two Northwest governors as arrowheads.

But some influential Northerners have insisted on zoning the presidency to the Southwest in appreciation of the backing of the zone for power shift to the North in 2015.

The same bigwigs, it was learnt, have been discouraging potential aspirants from the North.

Only Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello from the North has indicated intention to run.

It was gathered that some of those pushing for an open race are hiding under the ambiguity in the APC constitution over power rotation between the North and the South.

They are claiming that the party’s zoning formula applies only to the election of the National Working Committee (NWC) – the organ that runs the party.

It was also gathered that to achieve the open ticket agenda, these forces have opted for a crowded space.

The increasing number of presidential aspirants from the Southsouth and the Southeast was said to be part of the plot to pressurise the party’s leadership to leave APC presidential ticket open.

More presidential aspirants are expected in the race in the next few days.

However, it was gathered that some Northern APC governors have remained adamant that Southwest should produce the standard-bearer of the party.

According to sources, the latest twist on open agenda is the delay in releasing the party’s zoning formula.

There is also a hide and seek game between the APC and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Because of this, the sources said the APC may adopt the same zoning formula if PDP throws its ticket open.

fergie001:
https://www.nairaland.com/7101657/femi-falana-why-jonathan-cannot/3#112369869

You remember this yesterday abi?

Nigerialabalaba:
[s]las las ozekhome go be malami 2.0 .e just dey waste hin academic thesis.

no serious party go gamble risk give hin presidential ticket to a candidate like gej wey hin case get k leg. not even APC go try dat on d advice of ozekhome, a PDP lawyer wey dey defend all d looters like convicted faruk lawan, madam Patience Jonathan, thieves and ipob terrorists. shiorr.
make ozekhome go start hin own party like sowore and dash gej hin ticket. shiorr[/s]

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, disclosed on Friday in Abuja that it disqualified two of 17 presidential aspirants it screened.

Chairman of the Screening Committee, Senator David Mark, disclosed this to journalists, refused to disclose the identities of the disqualified aspirants or the reasons for their disqualification.

Details later…

fergie001:
I don't think Falana is right:

A Cyriakos Njoku filed a suit at the FCT High Court on Jonathan's eligibility in 2014 and the case was thrown out. He appealed and in March 2015, the Appeal Court ruled that: Jonathan was only elected once in 2011 and had a right to contest in 2015, stating that he only completed Yar'Adua's tenure when he took the oath in 2010.

1. The SC has ruled on a similar issue;
Geidam for example, was sworn-in as Deputy-Gov in 2007. His Principal, Sen Mamman Ali died in January 2009, and Geidam was sworn-in, he contested the 2011 & 2015 elections and won and his eligibility status was contested down to the SC in Maihaja v Geidam 2017.

The SC said Geidam only did hold the fort in 2009 & was not elected Gov in 2009 but only in 2011 & 2015, hence he was eligible.

2. Section 137 became law in 2018 but the law is not retrospective.

This is in accord with common sense as a law yet to be in existence cannot have effect on rights and/liabilities existing prior to its creation/commencement. (SC on HDP v Peter Obi)

It is settled law that the applicable law is the law in existence at the time the cause of action arose and not the law in force at the time of instituting the action or time of judgment (SC on Adigun vs Ayinde)

...Based upon the presumption that a legislature does not intend what is unjust, the Courts have always leaned against giving statutes a retrospective effect and usually regard them as applying to facts or matters which come into existence after the statutes were passed unless it is clearly shown that a retrospective effect was intended by the Legislature. (SC in Afolabi v Gov of Oyo).

....But it should be emphasised that an interpretation giving a retrospective effect to a statute’ should not be readily accepted where that would affect vested rights or impose liability or disqualification for past events. (SC in Adesanoye v Adewole)


Falana's argument is different....The SC refused Ladoja because he was sworn-in as an elected Gov before his impeachment. They are very different. Jonathan wasn't in 2010.
Most learned on this platform, the reason I'm always thrilled reading your jurisprudent submission everytime. You are wise and reasonable who is always objective in political punditry not minding whose horse is gored. Unlike Garfield1 who sees black and call it white just to suit his partisan narratives. God bless you.

fergie001:
I don't think Falana is correct. The cases are not same.

garfield1:
He is correct.you cannot spend more than 8 years or take oath thrice

Indications emerged, last night, on how some APC top shots sold the idea of a Goodluck Jonathan candidacy to President Buhari.

Multiple sources told Vanguard that the stakeholders, including governors, had approached the former president and sold the idea of Jonathan serving one term before handing it over to his would-be Vice.

It was also reliably gathered that, as part of the deal with Jonathan, the stakeholders may have settled for a running mate from the North-East.

Multiple sources told Vanguard that both President Buhari and Jonathan have agreed on the deal.

One of the sources said: “Jonathan has agreed in a way to serve only one term but not on the platform of the PDP. I am aware of what is going on and the deal thrown at Jonathan.

“Some APC governors, also known are the ones asking Jonathan to throw his hat in the ring. From what I know and the meeting I attended, they sold the idea to Buhari. Jonathan has already met Buhari in the villa and the deal has been sealed. The game is that he will only serve one term (because he cannot do two terms having been elected for the first term earlier) and hand over to his vice, who will come from the North-East.

“They know that the former president is obedient and will do their bidding, they have seen it in the past. As you know, the North still wants to retain power and that is why they are throwing the offer at him.”

Another source told Vanguard that the presidency is not looking in the direction of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo or Asiwaju Bola Tinubu in 2023. “They do not want Tinubu or Osinbajo. In fact, what worked against Osinbajo is that they see him as an extension of Bola Tinubu, who still defers to Tinubu.”

However, the source concluded by expressing caution, saying, “things are still in a state of flux and last-minute jostling may still upturn the arrangement.”