Aba Daily News Update

Obingwa Chairmaship/Councilorship Election: PDP pilots extraction of electorial materials.

admin

Link Author

Title: Obingwa Chairmaship/Councilorship Election: PDP pilots extraction of electorial materials.
Author: admin
Rating 5 of 5 Des:

The level of tension within Obingwa LGA in Abia State has been gaining great weight as each day adds to meet the election date. Political ...

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKUDXGHNG2v2ozjINKyOV3GR3Lp-dYvNTexCu7Am8yH_8uLkH2Q9ohzQn9KLTpFMPWi-XUbTa3Kpxyp-TzVantChYjQi8GacjHrKUhqQRgw7cGS5EiqSsq2vXD3o2c4di6QuPehnrOOzhi/s1600/11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKUDXGHNG2v2ozjINKyOV3GR3Lp-dYvNTexCu7Am8yH_8uLkH2Q9ohzQn9KLTpFMPWi-XUbTa3Kpxyp-TzVantChYjQi8GacjHrKUhqQRgw7cGS5EiqSsq2vXD3o2c4di6QuPehnrOOzhi/s640/11.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
The level of tension within Obingwa LGA in Abia State has been gaining great weight as each day adds to meet the <br /><br />election date. Political Parties campaigning and employing different strategies to get their candidates win the election <br /><br />scheduled for 21st December, 2016.<br /><br />Violence has been kept to its lowest degree through the hard word of the peace keeping body established within wards in <br /><br />the LGA. <br />Yet some political hoodlums has gone far with their strategies. <br />As expected, electorial materials arrived Obingwa LGA later in the evening of 20th December, 2016 against the election <br /><br />holding the next day being 21st. Credits to INEC for making the materials available as scheduled. <br />After dispatching materials to WARDS, it has been reported that great count of ballot papers is missing. <br /><br />According to reports in Obingwa Ward 5, after confirmation of the original number of ballot papers and other materials, <br /><br />Some political warlords within the ward from PDP conived with who so ever, making deals and took to their custody <br /><br />good number of ballot papers from each Polling Unit in WARD 5. <br />As earlier reported in a previous date, it has been brought to limelight that the electorial process is at the fear of being <br /><br />faulted.<br /><br />Hence, other parties at whose disadvantage this exploit is being carried out has raised great alarm. The call for open, free <br /><br />and fare election is at its high to ensure a serene exercise.

Obingwa Chairmaship/Councilorship Election: PDP pilots extraction of electorial materials.

The level of tension within Obingwa LGA in Abia State has been gaining great weight as each day adds to meet the election date. Political ...

Whistle Blower: Fear in Obingwa LGA in Abia State as Electoral process is faulted

Admin

Link Author

Title: Whistle Blower: Fear in Obingwa LGA in Abia State as Electoral process is faulted
Author: Admin
Rating 5 of 5 Des:

Notifications has gone round the Obingwa LGA in Abia state of an incoming fault in the up coming Councilorship Election holding on 21st ...

<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8YSVVnTg3Kdaog68weIZIgnPS59SVDqzNIKkLxK5Yz0Lgmwp50nacjNB-fpNx3rOo8_U0IECFd3hVImhvGlqyqVOi1XiD3Xh3WRfc3YB3QUkR-yooAx8OBwBK-fbXD5NpU13r2JAEAr4T/s1600/11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8YSVVnTg3Kdaog68weIZIgnPS59SVDqzNIKkLxK5Yz0Lgmwp50nacjNB-fpNx3rOo8_U0IECFd3hVImhvGlqyqVOi1XiD3Xh3WRfc3YB3QUkR-yooAx8OBwBK-fbXD5NpU13r2JAEAr4T/s400/11.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Notifications has gone round the Obingwa LGA in Abia state of an incoming fault in the up coming Councilorship Election holding on 21st December. This News is in its highest peak, pointing accusing fingers to political lords in the Obingwa Ward 5.<br />
<br />
Obingwa Ward 5 is made up of about 18 polling units which include: Iheorji/Umuojima, Obikabia/Umuariama, Umuonyengwa, Ahiaba Ubi, Amangwu/Umueme, Umuagbaduru, Umuohia, Osusu Umuikpeghi, Umuelendu/Umuokea, Umunwankwo, Umuobasi Ukwu, Umuagu, Ohuru, Umukalika, Osaa Okea, Umuariama, Abala Umuotu, Ohuru Umuohia, Ohuru Amaisii, Ohuru AMaiyi, Umuagwula Umuojima.<br />
<br />
Sources gathered that some political parasites with the aid and full sopuurt of tycons and political warlords are in the path of DETECTING the end result of the voting exercise by posting their own candidate as the winner of the electoral exercise, hereby nolifying the people's choice and making invalid the votes casted.<br />
<br />
This alarm was raised by some electoral peace keeping body in the ward who overheard a descreet discussion/arrangement some daysback during their usual patrol to ensure an accommodative polling atmosphere.<br />
<br />
Reports has also been filed to security units to curtail foul plays and violence during the up coming councilorship exercise.<br />
<br />
The body also plea with INEC to ensure a fare play during the exercise and also to the media to help spread this alert.<br />
<br />
<br />

Whistle Blower: Fear in Obingwa LGA in Abia State as Electoral process is faulted

Notifications has gone round the Obingwa LGA in Abia state of an incoming fault in the up coming Councilorship Election holding on 21st ...

Federal High Court Affirms Ikpeazu As Abia Governor, says Tax documents not forged

Admin

Link Author

Title: Federal High Court Affirms Ikpeazu As Abia Governor, says Tax documents not forged
Author: Admin
Rating 5 of 5 Des:

*says Tax documents not forged Justice A.I Allagoa of the Federal High Court in Owerri, has affirmed the election of Governor Okez...

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgULhlNMeTd9peJaYN1_ye2V3KU6ZOskyl9RrtYWCknydXBjYFEWUkfLtv41qJCeuA46kIaX831_djCJ5vzcnbawu4oMGBsJBRwcDgaFc1zfxhf1oZnpvDy_FnOZ53IqCyfUEM-_MIu7bD0/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgULhlNMeTd9peJaYN1_ye2V3KU6ZOskyl9RrtYWCknydXBjYFEWUkfLtv41qJCeuA46kIaX831_djCJ5vzcnbawu4oMGBsJBRwcDgaFc1zfxhf1oZnpvDy_FnOZ53IqCyfUEM-_MIu7bD0/s640/1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
*says Tax documents not forged</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Justice A.I Allagoa of the Federal High Court in Owerri, has affirmed the election of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Ruling on the matter filed by Mr. Friday Nwosu against, Ikpeazu, Uche Ogah, PDP and INEC, on alleged forgery of tax documents by Governor Ikpeazu, the court ruled that the plaintiff, (Nwosu) was unable to prove that the tax documents where forged.</div>
<script async="" src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>

<br />
<ins class="adsbygoogle" data-ad-client="ca-pub-8376079553520515" data-ad-format="auto" data-ad-slot="1824879584" style="display: block;"></ins><script>
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
</script></div>

Federal High Court Affirms Ikpeazu As Abia Governor, says Tax documents not forged

*says Tax documents not forged Justice A.I Allagoa of the Federal High Court in Owerri, has affirmed the election of Governor Okez...

Abia elders, traditional rulers back Ikpeazu

Admin

Link Author

Title: Abia elders, traditional rulers back Ikpeazu
Author: Admin
Rating 5 of 5 Des:

Abia State elders and traditional rulers have described the issuance of Certificate of Return to Mr. Uche Ogah by the Independent Nation...

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmpYnQLamubYf-FRB-TmxY-5yAJ1w44ZvCo-sCwowL3Svm8zGciAtX9BFKpAk5UJZQSfMihJUiL9YHpURt6YKFOT7CSfDyXziKhzBMpngKFQ09OwJAVUdfD73t60_ZY_PIl7rF-hqb4Y4X/s1600/14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmpYnQLamubYf-FRB-TmxY-5yAJ1w44ZvCo-sCwowL3Svm8zGciAtX9BFKpAk5UJZQSfMihJUiL9YHpURt6YKFOT7CSfDyXziKhzBMpngKFQ09OwJAVUdfD73t60_ZY_PIl7rF-hqb4Y4X/s320/14.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
Abia State elders and traditional rulers have described the issuance of Certificate of Return to Mr. Uche Ogah by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the order of Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court Abuja, as perverse and reckless.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
The elders who declare their full support for Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, appealed to Abians and every interest group in the tussle for leadership of the state, to remain calm, for the good of the state.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
Addressing journalists after a meeting in Abuja, on Monday, Chief Onyema Ugochukwu, who read the communique of a meeting they held at Asokoro home of Prince Vincent Ogbulafo in Abuja, commended the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, for his quick and timely intervention which the elders said, has helped to reduce tension in the State.<br />“We, the concerned elders of Abia State, worried by the developments in the last five days which threatened to plunge our State into anarchy, violence and bloodshed, met today in Abuja to review the situation”</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9M0zht0LKDEwsIA7kQB2nbzkUZ4htZiTqYJ7t8Y0Prxl4uOjfMONxSmnTjA2RYb0p8myOnKumnBL3KLRJXZ46eykANNaO6-KYJ6fZ6Ht_0qodIlkJgKyUSzA2N9_cFlMQM77W3iULT4L6/s1600/14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9M0zht0LKDEwsIA7kQB2nbzkUZ4htZiTqYJ7t8Y0Prxl4uOjfMONxSmnTjA2RYb0p8myOnKumnBL3KLRJXZ46eykANNaO6-KYJ6fZ6Ht_0qodIlkJgKyUSzA2N9_cFlMQM77W3iULT4L6/s400/14.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<span style="line-height: 19.32px;">The elders, he said, “reviewed the judgement of Justice Okon Abang, which is the beginning of the unfortunate crisis and INEC’s decision to issue a certificate of return to our son Dr. Uchechukwu Ogah, which decision exacerbated the crisis.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
“We came to the conclusion, unanimously, that Justice Abang’s order to issue a certificate of return to someone who never contested the governorship election against the Electoral Act and well known decisions of superior courts was perverse and reckless and we condemn it in its entirety.”</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
“We have also noted the unseeming haste of INEC to issue the certificate just a few hours after the Justice Abang order, and in spite of the fact that INEC had been duly served with a notice of appeal of the said order and the motion for a stay of execution.<br />“We are worried by the impression created of a conspiracy involving INEC to throw Abia into confusion and anarchy.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
“We condemn in very strong terms the attempt to set Abia on fire and create a situation which can only compound the problems which our country is currently having to bring an end to violence in the North East and Niger Delta.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCGoCcCr5ZdxfWJR5XCMGqfsFrfRh2z4NmuR9L7f5bI4_Ef1n0iKnG6Uao6XTAeQqYvmtVFXTK17gXkB9BZalNb2C9a15y9VjkR_r9l1gjhHb0zU33AVtBmRrSGq6dh-b0hcNdhbvmxujA/s1600/14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCGoCcCr5ZdxfWJR5XCMGqfsFrfRh2z4NmuR9L7f5bI4_Ef1n0iKnG6Uao6XTAeQqYvmtVFXTK17gXkB9BZalNb2C9a15y9VjkR_r9l1gjhHb0zU33AVtBmRrSGq6dh-b0hcNdhbvmxujA/s400/14.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<span style="line-height: 19.32px;">“We have also noted with appreciation the intervention of the Attorney General of the Federation, Malami, who has urged all parties to follow the rule of law and wait the conclusion of proceedings in the appellate courts. We join in this appeal for peace and urge all parties involved in this matter to calm down and await the conclusion of matters at the courts.”</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
“We also commend our people, the people of Abia who have remained peaceful in the face of recent provocations. We urge them to remain calm and maintain the peace as we wait the courts to conclude their processes”, they said.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
The elders stated that they have “faith in the Nigerian judiciary and believe that in the end, Justice will be done.”</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
They also used the opportunity to commiserate with families of notable Abia citizens who lost their lives recently, among who is Chief Ojo Maduekwe, who died recently.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
“We also discussed our recent bereavement as a people, especially the demise of Ambassador Ojo Maduekwe, just as our state was being thrown into confusion as well as the earlier death of Senator Onyeka Okoroafor.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitaBMWV8W5_rHi_ccyWTtesir2RI9tWs_vxiFrEjmrBGS5NjIofRHTSUM6xJrSIGaGLCKboz24dtWaVy2U6bGCv62clEAhtbe576Ov7mOmM_vehJZN27Ql4tMG9s981REqBjIZ-eQqYi3A/s1600/14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitaBMWV8W5_rHi_ccyWTtesir2RI9tWs_vxiFrEjmrBGS5NjIofRHTSUM6xJrSIGaGLCKboz24dtWaVy2U6bGCv62clEAhtbe576Ov7mOmM_vehJZN27Ql4tMG9s981REqBjIZ-eQqYi3A/s400/14.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<span style="line-height: 19.32px;">“We offer our sincere condolences to their respective families and pray that Almighty God will comfort and strengthen them and the State.”</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
The meeting was attended by notable Abia elders and traditional rulers among who are all the current serving Abia Senators including Former Governor Theodore Orji, (Abia Central,) Mao Ohuabunwa, (Abia North,) Enyi Abaribe, (Abia South).</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
Others are Senator Adolfus Wabara, Prince Vincent Ogbulafor, Chief Empire Kanu, Chief Onyema Ugochukwu, HRH, Eze Ngozi Marthias Nwoko, Professor S.O. Igwe, Hon. Uzoma Nkem Abonta, and Professor Herbert O. Orji.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; display: inline; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px; margin-top: 6px;">
Other Royal father’s present at the meeting include, HRH Eze J O Akaliro, HRH Eze Dr. Eberechi Dick and HRH Eze P M Okponku, amongst other personalities.</div>
<script async="" src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>

<br />
<ins class="adsbygoogle" data-ad-client="ca-pub-8376079553520515" data-ad-format="auto" data-ad-slot="1824879584" style="display: block;"></ins><script>
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
</script></div>

Abia elders, traditional rulers back Ikpeazu

Abia State elders and traditional rulers have described the issuance of Certificate of Return to Mr. Uche Ogah by the Independent Nation...

INEC followed court order by giving Ogah certificate — Lawyer

Admin

Link Author

Title: INEC followed court order by giving Ogah certificate — Lawyer
Author: Admin
Rating 5 of 5 Des:

Mr. Monday Ubani Mr. Monday Ubani is one of the counsel for Mr. Uchechukwu Ogah, who was declared by a Federal High Court as the true...

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: poppins, sans-serif; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 26px; text-align: justify;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; font-size: 15px; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_efW06gMPWudI6gjqPoAKl0W4GIguzyBkErdug3Q7pOspMHHATlpvWwyIqVOmkTcOaM9tj-_0hnkcU7y7GGUZFh27mrKOQuitAzQXU9KqiLuu13zQtykO2Gv2LeXaUV4uaGGwM7ebKYdv/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_efW06gMPWudI6gjqPoAKl0W4GIguzyBkErdug3Q7pOspMHHATlpvWwyIqVOmkTcOaM9tj-_0hnkcU7y7GGUZFh27mrKOQuitAzQXU9KqiLuu13zQtykO2Gv2LeXaUV4uaGGwM7ebKYdv/s400/1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "poppins" , sans-serif; font-style: italic; line-height: 17px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Mr. Monday Ubani</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Mr. Monday Ubani is one of the counsel for Mr. Uchechukwu Ogah, who was declared by a Federal High Court as the true winner of the Peoples Democratic Party governorship primary in Abia State. He tells <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">LEKE BAIYEWU</strong> that the interim injunction of stay of execution obtained by the embattled governor is inconsequential</div>
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Poppins, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 26px; text-align: justify;">
<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">W</em></strong><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">hy </em></strong><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">did the Independent National Electoral Commission go ahead to issue Mr. Uchechukwu Ogah a certificate of return when Governor Okezie Ikpeazu had already appealed his sacking by the Federal High Court?</em></strong></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Poppins, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 26px; text-align: justify;">
An appeal, in law, does not operate as a stay (of execution). The judgment of Justice Okon Abang was that INEC should issue the certificate of return immediately to Dr. Uche Samson Ogah and that the Chief Judge of Abia State was ordered to swear in Ogah immediately; that was the judgment of the court. Even if they have appealed, the appeal does not in any way operate as a stay of execution, except there is an express order by that same court staying execution or by a higher court – in this case, the Court of Appeal. In the absence of that express order, there is nothing standing on the way that order being obeyed as I speak to you.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Poppins, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 26px; text-align: justify;">
<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">It appears that there is a legal logjam in Abia on this matter.</em></strong></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Poppins, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 26px; text-align: justify;">
There is no logjam. People are just creating unnecessary issues. They went to a high court to obtain an interim order restraining the chief judge from swearing in Ogah. The (Abia) high court is a court of equal jurisdiction with the Federal High Court which gave the judgment on Monday, ordering that Ogah should be issued with a certificate of return; ordering the chief judge to swear in Ogah immediately. That decision (judgment) has not been reversed by any higher court. INEC gave a very explicit explanation on what it had done; that the order before it now was to issue certificate of return to Ogah and there was no contrary order, either by the same court or any higher court. And that is the fact. That somebody has gone to court to file any motion (of appeal) does not operate as a stay (of execution); there must be an order by a court for a stay to operate. They should stop creating issues or legal logjam that does not exist. There is no legal logjam anywhere.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Poppins, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 26px; text-align: justify;">
<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">What if Ogah has been sworn in before then, can his installation be reversed at that stage?</em></strong></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Poppins, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 26px; text-align: justify;">
If he (Ogah) has been sworn in – just like the man (Ikpeazu) had been sworn in and his certificate has been cancelled – his certificate can be cancelled. Was Ikpeazu not sworn in before?</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Poppins, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 26px; text-align: justify;">
<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Are you saying the interim injuction granted by the Abia court should be disregarded?</em></strong></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Poppins, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 26px; text-align: justify;">
It is of no consequences. It cannot vacate an existing judgment of the court (FHC). At best, you can call it a black market injunction. And that is the kind of injunctions they were obtaining during the time of (military dictator, Gen. Ibrahim) Babangida; it was called ‘quorum shopping.’ You would go from one place to another, looking for a court order. Who assigned that case (for the interim injuction)? We heard that the Chief Judge of Abia State was in Abuja. So, where was this case filed, when was it assigned, who assigned it and when did the court take the decision they are presenting to the public?</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Poppins, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 26px; text-align: justify;">
<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">The chief judge was alleged to have absconded. Do you see him as confused over this matter?</em></strong></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Poppins, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 26px; text-align: justify;">
The truth is that the chief judge may have been appointed by the current government, so his loyalty will be for the man (Ikpeazu) who is there now. The report that he has absconded may be not to do the needful by swearing in the new governor (Ogah). I understand that they are keeping the chief judge away and hiding him somewhere in Abia State; that is the story. It is a dirty way of playing politics by trying to vitiate a valid court judgment ordering the chief judge to swear in Ogah (as governor).</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Poppins, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 26px; text-align: justify;">
<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Is there any legal implication if the chief judge fails to execute the court order under what specific period?</em></strong></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Poppins, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 26px; text-align: justify;">
Of course, there are implications. The Chief Judge of Abia State is under oath to comply with the judgment of a court with competent jurisdiction and he must keep the oath in order to obey the Constitution and the laws of the land, including carrying out lawful instructions. It was a lawful order that was given to the chief judge and I understand that the chief judge is running away from implementing the order. That has implication because the Nigeria Judicial Council can be approached to complain about this particular act and it will be looked into. Evidence will be presented on what happened. He is not there; the chief judge is not there!</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Poppins, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 26px; text-align: justify;">
<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Your learned colleague, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, is alleging that the whole idea may be an agenda set by the All Progressives Congress to govern Abia State. Do you see the hand of the APC in this matter?</em></strong></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Poppins, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 26px; text-align: justify;">
I must say that I am totally disappointed by this kind of allegation from a person who is supposed to be a lawyer. I am totally disappointed for any lawyer to open his mouth and make an allegation that has no fact. How can he say the APC is sponsoring it in order to get power? Some even told me that he said Ogah would later defect (from the PDP) to the APC after he becomes governor. How can he make such an allegation when he doesn’t have any fact? There is no truth in it. We started this case a long time ago. In fact, I was the one who was even telling Ogah to do certain things and he said, ‘No, I will remain in the PDP.’ He said, ‘Ubani, I will remain in the PDP because God told me to remain in the PDP.’ Ogah has never shown any doubt about where he belongs – the PDP. For somebody to make such an allegation that has no fact and basis, I am totally disappointed. I am ashamed of such kind of allegation.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Poppins, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 26px; text-align: justify;">
<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Onagboruwa also believes that as much as the executive alleges that the judiciary is frustrating enforcement of the rule of law, it is also harassing those in the judiciary, including judges and lawyers. Have you experienced such?</em></strong></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Poppins, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 26px; text-align: justify;">
I cannot say I am frustrated. Our judicial system has a way of correcting itself and that is why we have the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court. If there is any wrong done at the lower court, you can approach a higher court and get the mistake corrected. I have so much faith in our judicial system. I believe in our judicial system. I also believe that all lawyers must try as much as possible to get the mistake corrected.  I consider it a cheap blackmail. When a judge wants to do justice and you start blackmailing him or her just because you are a lawyer or you have access to the press; that cannot be tolerated. I know that our judicial system will correct itself even in this particular case. But if you read the judgment of Justice Okon Abang, it was very comprehensive, profound; a novel case that cited so many authorities where the Supreme Court had made pronouncements.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Poppins, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 26px; text-align: justify;">
<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">If you say the interim injunction Ikpeazu got is from a court of equal jurisdiction and the chief judge is not available to swear in Ogah, what is the next step for your client?</em></strong></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Poppins, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 26px; text-align: justify;">
Apart from the chief judge, there are other people who can conduct the swearing in. The chief judge is under a mandatory order to swear in Ogah but if he fails to do that, other options can be explored.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Poppins, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 26px; text-align: justify;">
<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">What are the other options?</em></strong></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Poppins, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 26px; text-align: justify;">
<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;"></em></strong></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Poppins, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 26px; text-align: justify;">
I won’t disclose that. We will pursue other options if the chief judge fails to do what he is supposed to do.</div>
<script async="" src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>

<br />
<ins class="adsbygoogle" data-ad-client="ca-pub-8376079553520515" data-ad-format="auto" data-ad-slot="1824879584" style="display: block;"></ins><script>
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
</script></div>

INEC followed court order by giving Ogah certificate — Lawyer

Mr. Monday Ubani Mr. Monday Ubani is one of the counsel for Mr. Uchechukwu Ogah, who was declared by a Federal High Court as the true...

Attah, ex-Akwa Ibom gov, quits politics

Admin

Link Author

Title: Attah, ex-Akwa Ibom gov, quits politics
Author: Admin
Rating 5 of 5 Des:

Former governor of Akwa Ibom State, Victor Attah has announced his immediate retirement from partisan politics, but warned that hi...

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUHw5oTGa5u80mnmWUpj4MWAgipb94An_cbA4hqYrfGjtj2GiBw9TdDyJ4rJ-DJOmsSOPpZIZHVHxTfK8XAcLV8CZEjG9rCRO0H3Du7dEyeEJhxbpNqlYLFI5JYu7zuBU4ogYhBhJoqpnq/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUHw5oTGa5u80mnmWUpj4MWAgipb94An_cbA4hqYrfGjtj2GiBw9TdDyJ4rJ-DJOmsSOPpZIZHVHxTfK8XAcLV8CZEjG9rCRO0H3Du7dEyeEJhxbpNqlYLFI5JYu7zuBU4ogYhBhJoqpnq/s400/1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Former governor of Akwa Ibom State, Victor Attah has announced his 
immediate retirement from partisan politics, but warned that his action 
should not be misconstrued to mean his joining the All Progressives 
Congress (APC).<br />
Attah, who announced his decision at a press conference organised in his
 honour by Akwa Ibom Liberation Coalition on Tuesday, at Darty Hotel, 
Uyo, based his reason for quitting partisan politics on age, which at 77
 years on November 20, has graduated him into the elder statesman’s 
class.<br />
He said at that age, he could still serve Nigeria and the society as 
others in that class have been doing without necessarily carrying the 
card of any political party; but stressed that he has always been a 
committed professional in politics and not a professional or career 
politician.<br />
“So, I can formally state that I have quit partisan politics to play the
 role of an elder statesman and to continue to serve this country with 
love, strength, and faith with integrity to the best of my ability.<br />
“Let nobody take this to mean that I want to remain in the Peoples 
Democratic Party (PDP) or therefore, jump to the opposite conclusion 
that I am going over to APC or any other party for that matter,” he 
said.<br />
He blamed the PDP’s political woes on its lack of internal democracy, 
warning that for the party to bounce back as its current leaders claim, 
the party should return to the ideals of the party as propounded by the 
founding fathers.
<script async src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>

<ins class="adsbygoogle"
     style="display:block"
     data-ad-client="ca-pub-8376079553520515"
     data-ad-slot="9503932789"
     data-ad-format="auto"></ins>
<script>
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
</script>
</div>

Attah, ex-Akwa Ibom gov, quits politics

Former governor of Akwa Ibom State, Victor Attah has announced his immediate retirement from partisan politics, but warned that hi...

Rivers: Wike loses again

Admin

Link Author

Title: Rivers: Wike loses again
Author: Admin
Rating 5 of 5 Des:

… Supreme Court dismisses suit challenging tribunal’s jurisdiction • I was not sacked –Speaker The Supreme Court yesterday ruled ...

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuVRbVSe9no_A9fIrLoACRlfLEzpFsWjgM0FvP9RlywRIHW43deDilLPaHJFB_bnFZTq6WkFuKIfrfPvl4_XZh2H_TWRO4nvPBP9Be4dwHYN_me8g3EskK9HdTW4PEqzEQ4juCgrzW_fUc/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuVRbVSe9no_A9fIrLoACRlfLEzpFsWjgM0FvP9RlywRIHW43deDilLPaHJFB_bnFZTq6WkFuKIfrfPvl4_XZh2H_TWRO4nvPBP9Be4dwHYN_me8g3EskK9HdTW4PEqzEQ4juCgrzW_fUc/s320/1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<strong>… Supreme Court dismisses suit challenging tribunal’s jurisdiction</strong><br />
<strong>• I was not sacked –Speaker</strong><br />
<br />The Supreme Court yesterday ruled that the Rivers State Governorship 
Election Petition Tribunal has territorial jurisdiction to sit in Abuja 
following perceived security challenges in the state.<br />
The tribunal on Monday dismissed a preliminary objection raised by 
Governor Nyesom Wike on its territorial jurisdiction  and the failure of
 the President of the Court of Appeal to consult the Rivers State Chief 
Judge and President of the Customary Court of Appeal before constituting
 the tribunals. Dissatisfied, Wike approached the appellate court.<br />
In a lead judgment read by Justice Sanusi  (JSC), yesterday the Supreme 
Court held that the president of the Court of Appeal had the powers to 
transfer the sitting of the tribunal to Abuja to safeguard the lives of 
the judges and their staff.<br />
The Supreme Court also ruled that in view of the fact that Rivers State 
had no Chief Judge or Customary Court of Appeal, there was no 
possibility for the president to have consulted them before the 
constitution of the tribunals.<br />
In his reaction, Wike described the judgments of the Rivers State 
Election Tribunals, sitting in Abuja, which nullified his election and 
those of some state lawmakers, and that of Supreme Court, as ‘judicial 
terrorism against him’.<br />
Wike, who spoke through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, 
Opunabo Inko-Tariah said: “What is going on right now, can best be 
described as judicial gang-up against Wike, nay, the people of Rivers 
State. It is an affront on democracy and a blight disregard for the will
 of the people, as evinced in the April 11 general elections.”<br />
Meanwhile, Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) 
yesterday hailed the Supreme Court’s verdict on Governor Nyesom Wike’.<br />
Mr. Chris FineBone, Publicity Secretary of the party in the state, said 
in a statement in Port Harcourt that the apex court affirmed that the 
tribunal’s sitting was moved to Abuja because of insecurity.<br />
“As a party, the APC is grateful that all seven eminent jurists of the 
Supreme Court unanimously agreed that there was sufficient violence 
before, during and after the elections to justify the relocation of the 
tribunal to Abuja.’’<br />
It also commended the reason for the relocation of the tribunal to 
Abuja, which was to safeguard the lives of the tribunal chairman, 
members and witnesses.<br />
However, Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Ikuinyi-Owaji 
Ibani, has stated that the Elections Petitions Tribunal sacked neither 
him, nor any member of the Assembly on Monday.<br />
Ibani’s statement yesterday, was on the heels of the judgment of the 
tribunal, which nullified his election and that of 20 lawmakers of the 
state Assembly.<br />
<script async src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>

<ins class="adsbygoogle"
     style="display:block"
     data-ad-client="ca-pub-8376079553520515"
     data-ad-slot="9503932789"
     data-ad-format="auto"></ins>
<script>
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
</script>
</div>

Rivers: Wike loses again

… Supreme Court dismisses suit challenging tribunal’s jurisdiction • I was not sacked –Speaker The Supreme Court yesterday ruled ...

Akwa Ibom/Rivers guber: Judgments of controversies

Admin

Link Author

Title: Akwa Ibom/Rivers guber: Judgments of controversies
Author: Admin
Rating 5 of 5 Des:

The Judgments of the Akwa Ibom and Rivers States governorship election tribunal have generated controversy and confusion in both t...

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9OI84XxDVLdfIm7OIy7jSayB-9j_rQ9vNCp1IxWZd11HcVo3awwU4QvF09YRClkEboTviINg2X5LBizpqQmfxcWW8ide5XpEYFAuLGHPz9piKme9u6QotnTrMOf4R2kD9QW0s0mjgPTrq/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9OI84XxDVLdfIm7OIy7jSayB-9j_rQ9vNCp1IxWZd11HcVo3awwU4QvF09YRClkEboTviINg2X5LBizpqQmfxcWW8ide5XpEYFAuLGHPz9piKme9u6QotnTrMOf4R2kD9QW0s0mjgPTrq/s400/1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
The Judgments of the Akwa Ibom and Rivers States governorship election 
tribunal have generated controversy and confusion in both the affected 
states and the political and legal landscape . In the case of Akwa Ibom 
the tribunal nullified election in 18 Local Government Areas while the 
Rivers State tribunal  nullified the entire election and orders a rerun 
of the  election that produced the incumbent Governor, Nyesom Wike. The 
tribunal also sent 20 House of Assembly members in Rivers packng .It 
insisted that both governorship and state assembly elections were  
riddled with irregularities.<br />
While delivering judgment in the petition by the All Progressives 
Congress, and its candidate, Umana Umana, challenging the election of 
Mr. Emmanuel of the Peoples Democratic Party, the tribunal cancelled 
election in 18 LGAs of Nsit Ubium, Nsit Ibom, Ibiono Ibom, Uyo, Etinan, 
Udung Uko, Oruk Anam, Etim Ekpo, Ikoono, Ini, Ibesikpo-Asutan, Nsit 
Atai, Eket, Ikot Abasi, Ibeno, Uruan and Onna after holding election was
 not properly conducted in the affected areas.<br />
The three-member tribunal, led by Justice Sadiq Umar, consequently, 
ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to conduct 
re-run election in the affected 18 local government areas. However, the 
judgment created more confusion as there was no categorical 
pronouncement on whether Governor Udom Emmanuel should leave office.<br />
In addition, the judgment did not also spell out the time frame for the 
conduct of the rerun election in the affected local governments. This 
development has indeed thrown many Nigerians into confusion culminating 
into mixed reactions.<br />
Even among legal minds, the judgment of the tribunal has left them 
rather confused. For instance, a constitutional lawyer and author, 
Sabastine Hon [SAN] said thejudgment is confounding .<br />
The senior member of the Bar contended that even if it had nullified 
election in half of the local government areas in the state, the 
tribunal ought to have removed the governor and called for a rerun.<br />
He said, “I think an error of judgment has been committed, by nullifying
 election in 18 local government areas, it means the governor was not 
validly elected and should not continue in office.<br />
“However, under the Electoral Act, even if a governor is removed, he cannot vacate the seat until the time appeal is exhausted.<br />
 <script async src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>

<ins class="adsbygoogle"
     style="display:block"
     data-ad-client="ca-pub-8376079553520515"
     data-ad-slot="2033089187"
     data-ad-format="auto"></ins>
<script>
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
</script>

“But it was the duty of the tribunal to have made that pronouncement as a
 consequential order. It is an order that flows naturally from the 
judgment.”<br />
He, however, advised INEC to conduct rerun election in the affected 
local governments within one month or at the expiration of the appeal 
window so the people of Akwa Ibom state would know who their real 
governor is.<br />
Another legal practitioner, Emmanuel Gbanfa, equally expressed surprised
 at the judgment saying the judgment left some gaps which were difficult
 to understand.<br />
According to him, by cancelling election and ordering rerun in 18 out of
 the 31 local government areas in the state,  the tribunal has left some
 questions unanswered.<br />
He said “For instance, we know that the governor of Akwa Ibom State 
cannot be deemed to have been elected on the basis of 13 local 
government areas given the fact that the state has 31 local government 
areas”.<br />
He continued“The governor could only be validly elected if he had scored
 at least 25 per cent of the votes in 24 local government areas of the 
state.<br />
“By upholding election in 13 local government areas effectively means 
that the present governor was not validly elected. But because the 
tribunal did not expressly say so at the end of the day, gives room to 
confusion.”<br />
Again, Mr. Gbanfa faulted the tribunal for calling for rerun in the 18 
affected local government areas without indicating a definite time frame
 within which INEC should conduct the election.<br />
He insisted a lacuna could be created where all the parties fail to appeal the judgment of the tribunal.<br />
He said, “I believe the tribunal could have said since election has been
 cancelled in the 18 local government areas and therefore the present 
governor was not validly elected, they should be a rerun within three 
months or a specified time frame.<br />
“In that case, if any of the parties goes on appeal, the court would either uphold the ruling or change it.”<br />
The confusion is not resricated to the lawyers alone .Leaders of some  political parties  believe the judgment is vague.<br />
Reacting to the ruling, the PDP Chairman in Akwa Ibom state, Paul Ekpo, 
said the judgment was confusing.Mr. Ekpo said the only good thing about 
the judgment was that the governor, Mr. Emmanuel, remained in office.<br />
“The judgment is very confusing except that my governor, who had won the
 election overwhelmingly still remains the governor,” Mr. Ekpo said.<br />
 <script async src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>

<ins class="adsbygoogle"
     style="display:block"
     data-ad-client="ca-pub-8376079553520515"
     data-ad-slot="2033089187"
     data-ad-format="auto"></ins>
<script>
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
</script>

At the national level, the PDP through its National Publicity Secretary,
 Chief Olisa Metuh described as unacceptable and bizarre the election 
tribunal verdicts in both Rivers and Akwa Ibom. PDP National Publicity 
Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, in a statementon Saturdaysaid “indications
 to this spurious judgment had months ago been hinted to the PDP, which 
in turn, alerted the nation and the international community of the 
heinous plot by the APC government, to use the judiciary and various 
security agencies to reverse the victory of the PDP in Rivers, Delta, 
Akwa-Ibom, Taraba and Abia states.<br />
“We invite Nigerians and the international community to recall various 
reprehensible steps taken by the APC government that culminated in this 
ruling as well as the ridiculousWednesday’sverdict of the Akwa-Ibom 
state governorship election tribunal, also sitting in Abuja.”<br />
Metu listed reasons for his party’s objection to the rulings thus   “The
 curious and controversial relocation of the elections tribunals from 
their states to Abuja without any justification.<br />
“ The constant juggling of judicial officers and members of governorship
 elections tribunal in PDP states, especially, Rivers and Akwa-Ibom 
states.<br />
“Constant harassment of judicial and electoral officers involved in the 
governorship election cases in these state, using agencies of 
government, particularly, the Directorate of State Services (DSS) under 
the direct command of a known APC member, Alhaji Lawal Daura.<br />
“ Constant threats, intimidation and coercing of witnesses against the PDP in the tribunals.<br />
“The recent mass transfer of security operatives, especially the DSS and
 police personnel that actually participated in the conduct of the 
elections in Rivers and Akwa-Ibom, ostensibly to frustrate the course of
 genuine evidences in the process.”<br />
The statement added “The bias in the judgment against the PDP in Rivers 
as well as Akwa-Ibom is evidenced in the contradictions inherent in the 
trial process of the two cases and the verdicts therein, whereby the 
tribunals clearly disregarded standing legal norm that a petitioner must
 establish prove of claims.<br />
“Also curious is the fact that after both the petitioner and respondent 
agreed before the tribunal that both card reader and manual 
accreditations were used for the election, the tribunal still went ahead
 to base its decision on issues of card reader.”<br />
It further said “While it is convenient to them to use legal 
technicalities to deny PDP victory in Imo, Lagos, Ogun and Yobe states, 
the same rules are misapplied to wickedly favour APC petitioners in 
Rivers and Akwa-Ibom states.<br />
“It is therefore evinced that these contradictions are direct fall-out 
of compromises as well as boasts by the APC of being in direct and 
remote control of the tribunals. If not, how can one explain the fact 
that while governorship elections are being upturned in PDP states, in 
APC states, where similar claims and facts are in contention, elections 
are being upheld.<br />
“Further proof of bias by the Rivers tribunal is the fact that less than
 24 hours after various counsels submitted nine written addresses and 
documents, the tribunal rushed its notice of judgment, an action 
ostensibly aimed at ambushing the pending Supreme Court action on the 
issue of jurisdiction regarding the relocation of the tribunal outside 
River state, which was due to be deliveredon Tuesday.<br />
“This is not withstanding the fact that the tribunal has up to seven 
days after of receipt of addresses, to deliver its judgment, but chose 
instead, to rush to deliver this spurious verdict even on aSaturday, a 
development eliciting suspicion that the judgment may have since been 
predetermined and written even before the commencement of the case.<br />
“The PDP calls on all Nigerians and the international community to note 
this growing manipulation of the judiciary by the APC government, a 
factor which portends great danger to our democracy and the stability of
 our country.<br />
“Nigerians would want to recall that under the PDP-led government with 
former President Goodluck Jonathan’s commitment to the tenets of 
democracy as encapsulated in the safeguard of ‘one man one vote’ and the
 independence of the judiciary, the PDP conceded electoral defeat in 
Edo, Anambra, and Imo states without attempting to collect victory 
through executive manipulation of the judicial process.<br />
“The PDP restates unequivocally that this judgments must not stand in 
view of the prevailing inherent contradictions, in addition to the huge 
threat they portend to our democracy and national stability.<br />
“Finally, the PDP charges all lovers<br />
APC VOWS TO APPEAL AKWA IBOM JUDGMENT<br />
In his response, the APC chairman in Akwa Ibom  State, Dr. Amadu Atai 
said his party will not leave any stone unturned in redressing the 
judgment saying the party would have won the election but for the 
irregularities.  He insisted that the party would also proceed to the 
Supreme Court after the appeal to pursue the issue of removing the 
governor before the re-run election.<br />
Atai said the party was expecting outright cancellation of the 
governorship election since it nullified the elections in 18 out of the 
31 local government areas.<br />
He said “The tribunal has cancelled the governorship elections in 18 
local government areas and ordered the Independent National Electoral 
Commission to conduct elections in the affected areas.<br />
“But we are going to file an appeal because we expected cancellation in 
more local government areas where discrepancies were pervasive,” he 
said.<br />
Another APC chieftain  who spoke on the issue but refused to be named 
for security reasons said “The issue of Governor Emmanuel Udom still 
remaining in office after the judgment of the tribunal is also causing 
considerable argument in the state as many are of the opinion that there
 will never be a free and fair rerun without the governor vacating his 
position.<br />
“As long as a sitting governor remains in power while a rerun is 
conducted there will never be a free and fair contest. So what is the 
essence of the rerun. The governor and hs deputy should be made to step 
aside for the Speaker of the State House of Assembly to take over until 
after the rerun. This will create room for a level playing field for the
 candidates and their political parties.<br />
 <script async src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>

<ins class="adsbygoogle"
     style="display:block"
     data-ad-client="ca-pub-8376079553520515"
     data-ad-slot="2033089187"
     data-ad-format="auto"></ins>
<script>
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
</script>

Arguments for and against Rivers tribunal ruling<br />
In a swift reaction,to the judgment nullifying his election  Governor 
Wike expressed dissatisfaction with the judgment and vowed  to challenge
 the verdict  at the Court of Appeal.<br />
His Counsel, Chief Chris Uche [SAN] who spoke on behalf of the 
respondents said they will surely test the popularity of the judgement 
at the Court of Appeal and even to the Supreme Court.<br />
Questioning why the tribunal hastily delivered its judgment in less than
 48 hours after the adoption of final address by parties in the suit, 
Uche said it was wrong of the tribunal to have heavily relied on the use
 of card reader when INEC itself admitted that both card reader and 
manual can be used where the card reader malfunctioned<br />
The senior lawyer accused the tribunal of trying to pre-empt the 
judgment of the Supreme Court challenging the jurisdiction of the 
tribunal which has been fixed for Tuesday next week.<br />
After reviewing the arguments and submissions of counsel to parties to 
the petition, the tribunal said it agreed with the petitioners, All 
Progressives Congress [APC] and its governorship candidate, dr. Dakuku 
Peterside that the April 11, 2015 election was characterized by 
intimidation, harassment, snatching of ballot boxes, diversion of 
electoral materials, ballot stuffing and allocation of figures in favour
 of the PDP candidate.<br />
It further held that the failure to use Card Reader Machine as was 
instructed by the INEC robbed the election of its credibility and made 
the outcome of the poll a sham and a mockery of democracy.<br />
Besides, the tribunal held that the petitioners had through their 
witnesses established allegations of non-compliance to the Electoral Act
 and that the petitioners adduced credible evidence backed by documents 
to prove that Governor Wike was wrongly declared winner of the election.<br />
The discordant of tune that trailed the ruling was not surprising . 
thetwo sides had,  prior to the judment plied different legal roads in 
arguing their positions.  Whereas the petitioners, through their 
counsel, Chief Akinolu Olujimi, SAN, urged the tribunal to sack Governor
 Wike and order the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to 
conduct fresh governorship poll in Rivers State, all the respondents, 
sought the dismissal of the petition for want of merit.<br />
While adopting their final written argument dated October 19, counsel to
 the petitioners, Olujimi, SAN, urged the tribunal to hold that “no 
governorship election known to any law in Nigeria, took place in Rivers 
State on April 11, 2015. My lords, the central issue in this petition is
 about the pleadings of the parties.<br />
“It is the nature of the pleading that defines the issue in dispute 
between the parties. It is the case of the petitioners that there was no
 election conducted in Rivers State known to the law.  The 2nd 
 respondent (Wike) has the burden to justify the over 1 million votes 
that were allotted to him by INEC. What we are simply asking for is the 
nullification of the election.”<br />
On his part, Wike, through his lawyer, Mr. Emmanuel Ukala, SAN, relied 
on the provision of section 85(1) of the Electoral Act to insist that 
Dr. Peterside was not validly nominated by the APC to contest the 
governorship election.<br />
Wike argued that instead of the 21 days provided by the Electoral Act, 
APC, only gave INEC 16 days notice before it conducted the primary 
election that produced Peterside as its governorship flag-bearer in the 
state.<br />
“My lords, this goes to the issue of qualification. The Appeal Court had
 in its decision in Labour Party vs. Wike, held that the 21 days notice 
is mandatory. There is, therefore, no locus standi in the petitioner 
before this court.”<br />
On the issue of whether or not Wike secured the lawfully cast votes to 
warrant his declaration as winner of the April 11 governorship poll in 
the state, Ukala relied on the decided case-law in Buhari vs Obasanjo 
and contended that the petitioners failed to effectively discharge the 
burden of proof placed on them by the law.<br />
“What they were expected to do was to call all officers who conducted 
the election, as well as tender all the electoral forms that were used. 
So far, aside calling only 56 witnesses, the petitioners only tendered 
3,157 copies of the Forms EC8A, whereas from their own calculation, 
there were supposed to have tendered 5,792 copies. It is, therefore, our
 position that the petitioners did not meet the standard of proof set by
 the law,” Ukala added.<br />
Besides, Wike also relied on the case of Ngige vs INEC, 2015, 1-NWLR, 
part 1440, and argued that the burden of establishing that the election 
was conducted in substantial non-compliance with the Electoral Act, 
rested on the petitioners.<br />
Similarly, INEC, through its lawyer, Dr. Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN, urged the
 tribunal to dismiss the petition and affirm the governorship election 
result it declared in Rivers State.<br />
INEC relied on the case of Gundirin vs Nyako, and argued that APC and 
Peterside ought to have proved that the election was flawed, by calling 
witnesses from each of the polling units in the state.<br />
“We pray this tribunal to dismiss the evidence of the PW-40. Assuming 
that the issue of irregularity was brought to the attention of the INEC 
and it looked into it and took the decision to declare the result, it 
means that INEC did not accept the opinion expressed by the PW-40. It 
also means that INEC rejected those reports, it can therefore never 
amount to admission against the election,” INEC lawyer submitted.<br />
Earlier, lead counsel to the PDP, Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, also 
prayed the tribunal to dismiss the petition and uphold governor Wike’s 
election. After listening to all the parties the tribunal reserved its 
judgement for today on the matter.<br />
The tribunal had while reviewing the case in its judgment stated that 
Peterside/APC called 56 witnesses and of the respondents: INEC-16; 
Wike-24; PDP-none. The panel states that the petitioners submitted three
 issues for determination.<br />
INEC had argued that the petitioners failed to prove their case polling 
unit by polling unit in line with Supreme Court earlier decisions.   The
 Tribunal thereafter reviewed Mr. Wike’s second major argument. Governor
 Wike’s first major argument is that most of the petitioners’ witnesses 
gave hearsay evidence, while the other major arguments, include: 
Petitioners are required to prove polling unit by polling unit but they 
only called few polling unit agents; non-usage of card reader cannot be 
grounds for nullifying election.<br />
Mr. Wike also argued that the election was free and fair and he was duly
 returned governor. He asked the tribunal to strike out the petition. 
The tribunal states that PDP’s final address was on October 16.<br />
The PDP argued that the Petitioners leveled allegations of crime against
 the military which was not joined as a party and that such should be 
expunged from the record of the court.<br />
In addition, PDP also argued that non-usage of card reader cannot be 
grounds of nullification of election. PDP thus argued that the 
petitioners failed to prove their case and case should be struck out.<br />
The petitioner, Mr. Peterside, argued that the card reader machine was 
made mandatory by INEC’s guideline and has the backing of the Electoral 
Act.<br />
In its judgment, the tribunal adopted only one issue for determination –
 whether or not the petitioners have proved their case after dismissing 
the preliminary issues concerning the competence of the tribunal raised 
by the respondents.<br />
The tribunal restated the petitioners’ allegations including poll being 
marred by intimidation of voters, non-availability of result sheets, 
snatching of electoral materials, non-collation of results at wards and 
LG levels and held that the evidence of the petitioners’ witnesses is 
relevant and reliable in this regard.<br />
The tribunal stated that INEC has the power to insist on card readers 
and it therefore is not open to anybody to act otherwise. According to 
the tribunal, Exhibit A9 presented by the petitioners, which is a report
 by head of election monitoring team of INEC office in Rivers State, 
Charles Okoye, confirmed the allegations of the petitioners.<br />
The tribunal stressed that card readers were introduced by INEC to 
ensure credibility and transparency of the election, adding that “We 
don’t see any conflict between the introduction of card readers and the 
provisions of the Electoral Act.”

<ins class="adsbygoogle"
     style="display:block"
     data-ad-client="ca-pub-8376079553520515"
     data-ad-slot="9503932789"
     data-ad-format="auto"></ins>
<script>
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
</script>
</div>

Akwa Ibom/Rivers guber: Judgments of controversies

The Judgments of the Akwa Ibom and Rivers States governorship election tribunal have generated controversy and confusion in both t...

APGA faults tribunal rulings on election petitions

Admin

Link Author

Title: APGA faults tribunal rulings on election petitions
Author: Admin
Rating 5 of 5 Des:

The All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) has condemned in totality, the judgments the party got at the various election tribunals...

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjDAaOyWpRAoaWqWtvSZf70seefuqD2N4O9sBX2BfhkOwRp0TQbAPcvxHvbMooO1rVuyrCoV_D0S5IILnX9_FKSXF3UDguz0MdGy1M-DVPAfff7FIOsPjUlkdD9_fQYuhQnyzdmwf64Enq/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjDAaOyWpRAoaWqWtvSZf70seefuqD2N4O9sBX2BfhkOwRp0TQbAPcvxHvbMooO1rVuyrCoV_D0S5IILnX9_FKSXF3UDguz0MdGy1M-DVPAfff7FIOsPjUlkdD9_fQYuhQnyzdmwf64Enq/s400/1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
The All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) has condemned in totality, the
 judgments the party got at the various election tribunals across the 
country, insisting that the rationality and propriety of the rulings 
have been called to question.<br />
Speaking during a press conference in Abuja yesterday, the chairman of 
the party, Dr Victor Ikechukwu, claimed that there was an orchestrated 
plan to sabotage its efforts to contribute to building an egalitarian 
society in which generations unborn will live in peace and tranquillity.<br />
His words: “The first key national issues we want to address is about 
the election tribunal. Some of the outcomes of the judgments from the 
tribunals have not been too pleasant. It is not in our character to 
question the integrity of the judiciary.<br />
“The judiciary is doing its best to ensure that it discharges its 
statutory responsibilities as fairly as it can, but the present 
development has put a question mark on that.<br />
 <script async src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>

<ins class="adsbygoogle"
     style="display:block"
     data-ad-client="ca-pub-8376079553520515"
     data-ad-slot="2033089187"
     data-ad-format="auto"></ins>
<script>
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
</script>

“In Abia State for instance, where it was very glaring from day one that
 APGA won almost all the elections in that state, our candidate was 
shortchanged but we decided not to take the laws into our hands as 
law-abiding citizens of this country. We put the national interest above
 our own parochial interest.  “We sort relief in court, we went to the 
tribunal believing that we will get justice from the tribunal but what 
we got was far from what expected. This has aroused some sense of 
uncertainty around us that we are pushed to begin to question the 
rationality and propriety of some of the judgments that have been 
delivered.<br />
“It was the same situation in Anambra State where after going through 
some of the judgments, I was ashamed to be a part of the system. We have
 to build a nation devoid of unnecessary partisanship and parochialism. 
They gave flimsy excuses for dismissing cases they knew quite well went 
through the whole hug of legal scrutiny but at the end, they threw it 
into the abyss.<br />
“We know that there are technicalities but the Appeal court said that 
the tribunals also should not base their judgments on technicalities. In
 one of the cases that went through a 174-day scrutiny, but the judgment
 read said that the case was dismissed for lack of merit yet they 
allowed the case to run for that long.<br />
“I found out that there are injustice inside injustice. Our party 
consists of men and women of integrity. We love this country and that is
 why we are working very hard to build an egalitarian society in which 
generations of the born will leave in peace and tranquillity.<br />
“We will sit back and watch some people turn our vision of contributing 
to national development. Time has come for this country to rejig and see
 how we can review the laws to make them more human and attuned to our 
societal needs.<br />
“We  don’t want a situation that can hold people hostage and excoriate 
to people who come to seek justice. We are really worried and something 
must be urgently done to drastically review the  electoral act 2010 as 
amended.<br />
“The provisions of that law is too draconian, inhuman and uncivilized to
 be used to judge people in the modern society. We call a drastic review
 of that law to make it more amenable to our environmental needs.<br />
“We can no longer sit down and watch the unnecessary chastisement of our
 members across the country. We are going to seek any redress 
statutorily permissible to reclaim our mandates,” he said.

APGA faults tribunal rulings on election petitions

The All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) has condemned in totality, the judgments the party got at the various election tribunals...

Igbo’s endless struggle for presidency

Admin

Link Author

Title: Igbo’s endless struggle for presidency
Author: Admin
Rating 5 of 5 Des:

Late Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu In this piece, ENIOLA AKINKUOTU looks at the struggle by the South-East to rule the country...

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<script async="" src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>

<br />
<ins class="adsbygoogle" data-ad-client="ca-pub-8376079553520515" data-ad-format="auto" data-ad-slot="2033089187" style="display: block;"></ins><script>
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
</script>

<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikjRtSm_dnCxwjCl0CvnhMpYQ8uQJt-QQs1hamukqB7oRNRPlG36c_1NFvTbkh6_hazWFn1oWyCY7Sile0ISIxZkHtBiHHQcmheYis056mLvKVj__wPPbR3blmmyXrebL2vpZfSdNEgEIN/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikjRtSm_dnCxwjCl0CvnhMpYQ8uQJt-QQs1hamukqB7oRNRPlG36c_1NFvTbkh6_hazWFn1oWyCY7Sile0ISIxZkHtBiHHQcmheYis056mLvKVj__wPPbR3blmmyXrebL2vpZfSdNEgEIN/s400/1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><i><b>Late Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i>In this piece, </i>ENIOLA AKINKUOTU<i> looks at the struggle by the South-East to rule the country</i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
When in December 2002, the leader of the
 defunct Biafra Republic, the late Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, 
declared that the South-East would produce the President of Nigeria in 
2003, the Igbo nation rejoiced based on the hope that Nigerians would 
put the civil war behind them and vote for an Igbo president.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“It is time for an Igbo presidency, we 
have been cheated long enough, whoever says the Igbo nation will not 
rule the country in the forthcoming general election is making a great 
mistake,” Ojukwu had said.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
To this end, a former Vice-President of 
Nigeria, Dr. Alex Ekwueme, joined the presidential race on the platform 
of the Peoples Democratic Party but was roundly defeated by the then 
incumbent President Olusegun Obasanjo, who was gunning for a second term
 in office.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Months later, Ojukwu founded the All 
Progressive Grand Alliance and joined the presidential race but only got
 1.48 per cent of the total votes cast. In 2007, Ojukwu contested again 
but got only 0.44 per cent of votes. In both elections, Ojukwu’s votes 
only came from the South-East. In fact, in Bayelsa State, he got only 
three votes.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Interestingly, in both elections, Ojukwu did not defeat the ruling PDP in the South-East, his area of strength.</div>
<script async="" src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>

<br />
<ins class="adsbygoogle" data-ad-client="ca-pub-8376079553520515" data-ad-format="auto" data-ad-slot="2033089187" style="display: block;"></ins><script>
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
</script>

<div style="text-align: justify;">
But in 2014, the Igbo endorsed former 
President Goodluck Jonathan and the PDP during the last general election
 and supported him through and through. Jonathan, who is from the Ijaw 
ethnic group in Bayelsa State, got more than 75 per cent of the total 
votes cast in the South-East.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
With Jonathan’s ultimate defeat in the 
more populated North and the South-West, Muhammadu Buhari of the All 
Progressives Congress emerged the winner of the presidential race and 
the Igbo lost out in the national scheme of things since the PDP became 
the minority in the National Assembly as well.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
For this reason, the top four positions 
in the country have gone to other geopolitical zones. The Igbo have also
 received the least number of federal appointments under Buhari.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The South-East is the smallest 
geopolitical zone in the country in terms of land mass and number of 
states. Geographically, the entire South-East, which is made up of five 
states, is half the size of Borno State.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Because the national strength of a 
geopolitical zone is determined by the number of states, the Igbo have 
the lowest number of seats in the Senate, the House of Representatives 
and the Federal Executive Council while the North-West, with seven 
states, has the biggest political advantage in the country.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Sadly for the Igbo, their fortunes might
 not change anytime soon since the presidency might continue to elude 
them till 2023. The reason is not far-fetched. The two major parties in 
Nigeria, the APC and the PDP, are most likely to present northerners as 
their presidential candidates in 2019</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Already, the PDP has zoned its 
presidency to the North. At its National Executive Committee meeting in 
Abuja, the PDP endorsed a report submitted by the Deputy Senate 
President, Ike Ekweremadu, who was also the head of the post-election 
review committee.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
According to the report, the North 
should produce the next presidential candidate of the PDP as this was 
the only way the APC could be defeated. Ironically, Ekweremadu, who 
headed the committee, is also from the South-East.</div>
<script async="" src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>

<br />
<ins class="adsbygoogle" data-ad-client="ca-pub-8376079553520515" data-ad-format="auto" data-ad-slot="2033089187" style="display: block;"></ins><script>
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
</script>

<div style="text-align: justify;">
Reacting to this development, the Deputy
 National Organising Secretary of APGA, Campbell Umeh-Nzekwe, said 2019 
presents the best opportunity for the South-East to produce the 
President.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Umeh-Nzekwe, who is also the leader of 
APGA in Lagos State, said since both the PDP and the APC had zoned the 
Presidency to the North, the votes in the North would be divided.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
He, therefore, said this was the time for APGA to consolidate its hold on the South-East.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Umeh-Nzekwe said it was unfortunate that
 the Igbo only gave bloc votes to politicians from other geopolitical 
zones but continued to shun their own people. He, however, argued that 
the Igbo elements in the PDP would awake from their slumber and join 
hands with APGA in 2019 to ensure that their kinsman is made President.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
He said, “The PDP has zoned its 
presidency to the North while the national chairman slot has been zoned 
to the South-West. APGA has thus zoned the presidency to the South-East.
 Hence, the PDP will be buried in the South-East in 2019.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“Those Igbo who used the PDP to 
destabilise the Igbo race will naturally rejoin their brothers and 
sisters in APGA to work towards claiming the presidency.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“Since we helped a Yoruba man, Olusegun 
Obasanjo, to become President; a Fulani man, Umaru Yar’Adua, to become 
President; and an Ijaw man, Goodluck Jonathan, to also become President,
 no self-respecting Igbo man will deny his fellow Igbo the opportunity 
of becoming President in 2019.”</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The Lagos State Publicity Secretary of 
the APC, Joe Igbokwe, who is also from the South-East, however, said 
that for the Igbo to rule Nigeria, they must master the art of 
opposition politics for the next 10 years.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
He said one of the reasons that the Igbo
 never won presidential elections was because they were always making 
deals and forming alliances with the government in power. He said the 
Igbo never built solid political structures but continued to rely on the
 power base of other geopolitical zones.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
He noted that this was the case in the 
First Republic, Second Republic, Third Republic and the first 16 years 
of the Fourth Republic. He said this development made it difficult for 
the Igbo to carve a niche for themselves and become a force to be 
reckoned with.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Igbokwe said, “I want the Igbo nation, 
where I come from, to play opposition politics in Nigeria at least for 
the next 10 years so that the world will take them serious once again in
 matters of Nigerian politics. In the First Republic, the Igbo-dominated
 the NCNC (National Conference of Nigerian Citizens) formed an alliance 
with the northern-based (Northern Peoples Congress) to form a government
 at the centre.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“In the Second Republic, the 
Igbo-dominated NPP (Nigerian Peoples Party) again teamed up with the NPN
 (National Party of Nigeria) to form the national government in the 
centre.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“In the Third Republic, during the 
Northern Republican Convention/Social Democratic Party era, MKO Abiola 
won the election fair and square on the platform of the SDP but the 
majority of the Igbo, led by the late Odumegwu Ojukwu, the late Evan 
Enwerem, and Okwesilieze Nwodo, teamed up with some other prominent Igbo
 leaders and even some prominent Yoruba leaders to support Ibrahim 
Babangida, Ernest Shonekan, and Sani Abacha in sustaining the annulment 
of the June 12, 1993 election. Again, for 16 years, the PDP was in power
 in Nigeria, and the Igbo were with the PDP.”</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The APC spokesperson said the Igbo did 
not have sacrificial leaders like MKO Abiola who died protecting his 
mandate and refused to be bought.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Igbokwe further noted that the absence 
of a unifying leader in the South-East is also affecting the politics of
 the zone. He said for instance, the Yoruba interest was being propelled
 by the National Leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
He said there is the need for the Igbo to shun money politics.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
A member of the PDP Board of Trustees, 
who spoke to our correspondent on condition of anonymity, said the Igbo 
must have ‘unity of purpose’. He said the Igbo were not known for making
 sacrifices.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
He said, “In 2008, we zoned the office 
of the PDP national chairman to the South-East. However, when we asked 
the South-East caucus to present a candidate, 20 people signified 
interest. Some of those who signified interest were Rochas Okorocha, 
Senator Pius Anyim and a former Governor of Ebonyi State, Sam Egwu.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“They all refused to step down for one 
another until we intervened and held a series of meetings. It was after 
such an intervention that Prince Vincent Ogbulafor emerged the chairman.
 The moment we zone the presidency to the South-East, be sure that 
several candidates will emerge. The Igbo need to be more united if they 
will ever get the presidency.”</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
A former Governor of the old Kaduna 
State, Balarabe Musa, told our correspondent on the telephone that it 
would be unfair not to allow the Igbo to produce the next President. 
Musa said although he would prefer the next President emerging on the 
basis of competence rather than tribe, Nigeria’s diversity must be 
respected.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
He said, “The development is unhealthy. 
If we accept this idea of rotation, then we must apply it faithfully. 
And I think the South-East qualifies to benefit from this rotation. It 
would save Nigeria from a political crisis.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“Normally, it should be based on merit 
but there is the need to give every Nigerian a sense of belonging. The 
rotation is, therefore, justified and I think it is time that someone 
emerged from the South-East.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“The South-East must bring one person 
forward who is credible and can compete with any other candidate from 
any other part of Nigeria. If the North presents a candidate that is 
more competent than the South-East, then the South-East could easily 
lose.”</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i>It’s been 13 years since Ojukwu 
prophesied that the South-East would rule Nigeria. When the prophecy 
will come to pass still remains unknown.</i></div>
<script async="" src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>

<br />
<ins class="adsbygoogle" data-ad-client="ca-pub-8376079553520515" data-ad-format="auto" data-ad-slot="9503932789" style="display: block;"></ins><script>
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
</script></div>

Igbo’s endless struggle for presidency

Late Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu In this piece, ENIOLA AKINKUOTU looks at the struggle by the South-East to rule the country...

Jonathan’s defeat affected Lagos PDP’s rigging plan – APC

Admin

Link Author

Title: Jonathan’s defeat affected Lagos PDP’s rigging plan – APC
Author: Admin
Rating 5 of 5 Des:

The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress says the loss of the presidential election by the Peoples Democratic P...

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
 <script async src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>

<ins class="adsbygoogle"
     style="display:block"
     data-ad-client="ca-pub-8376079553520515"
     data-ad-slot="2033089187"
     data-ad-format="auto"></ins>
<script>
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
</script>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidwhv-Glc7ez1RiqOCHkaPI8g9vLsZfG-IK8Ix58Sc5oiQHjMY71xsLKINA8hSQ4qSIJTAbyimpxyiQpz4VIqYk_9WY5B4Dxl9FxfzOCeRmpkcteEaubH0me3-81dXy16OFOwWWyVaJIWs/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidwhv-Glc7ez1RiqOCHkaPI8g9vLsZfG-IK8Ix58Sc5oiQHjMY71xsLKINA8hSQ4qSIJTAbyimpxyiQpz4VIqYk_9WY5B4Dxl9FxfzOCeRmpkcteEaubH0me3-81dXy16OFOwWWyVaJIWs/s320/1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The Lagos State chapter of the All 
Progressives Congress says   the loss of the presidential election by 
the Peoples Democratic Party on March 28, 2015 frustrated its plans to 
take over Lagos State by force.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The APC, while reflecting on the victory
 of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode at the Supreme Court last week, said the 
PDP would have deployed security agencies and ethnic groups to remove 
the APC government in Lagos if Nigerians had re-elected former President
 Goodluck Jonathan.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
In a statement issued by the APC 
spokesman, Mr. Joe Igbokwe, on Sunday, the party commended the 
resilience of Nigerians during the presidential poll to free themselves 
from 16 years of oppression of the PDP.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The APC said, “Had the PDP succeeded in 
stealing the presidency on March 28, 2015, it would have used the army, 
the police, the Department of State Service to ‘steal’ Lagos by force.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The Supreme Court verdict has proved 
beyond reasonable doubt that Ambode won the governorship election fair 
and square, defeating Mr. Jimi Agbaje of the PDP with more than 160, 000
 votes.”</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
While assuring Lagosians that the APC 
government in Lagos would not lower the bar of leadership, the group 
said Lagos would continue to be a pacesetter.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The APC said the Supreme Court verdict 
was another call to duty , adding that Governor Ambode possesses the 
required skills, training, experience, to consolidate on the gains of 
the past 16 years.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The statement read, “As a bean counter, 
he has hit the ground running, restructuring and repositioning critical 
institutions in Lagos. He has been busy embarking on reforms. The 
resounding victory at the apex court tells us in no uncertain terms that
 Lagosians have not forgotten how AD (Alliance for Democracy), AC 
(Action Congress), ACN (Action Congress of Nigeria) and now APC, 
transformed Lagos in the last 16 years and made the city the fastest 
growing cosmopolitan city state in Africa, with a Gross Domestic Product
 of more than $135 bn.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“Lagosians have not forgotten that the 
progressive party cleaned up Lagos and made it a habitable city. They 
have not forgotten how our party made Lagos a haven for business 
activities to thrive. They have not forgotten how we built the most 
formidable security architecture in Lagos to protect lives and property 
of more than 18 million Nigerians residing in the city of Lagos.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“The apex court ruling has put paid to 
the controversy surrounding the April 11 poll. The victory would spur 
the Ambode-led administration to implement the party’s people-oriented 
policies and programmes.”</div>
<script async="" src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>

<br />
<ins class="adsbygoogle" data-ad-client="ca-pub-8376079553520515" data-ad-format="auto" data-ad-slot="9503932789" style="display: block;"></ins><script>
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
</script></div>

Jonathan’s defeat affected Lagos PDP’s rigging plan – APC

The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress says the loss of the presidential election by the Peoples Democratic P...

Edo PDP, APC clash over FG bailout

Admin

Link Author

Title: Edo PDP, APC clash over FG bailout
Author: Admin
Rating 5 of 5 Des:

Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party and its All Progressives Congress counterpart...

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
 <script async src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>

<ins class="adsbygoogle"
     style="display:block"
     data-ad-client="ca-pub-8376079553520515"
     data-ad-slot="2033089187"
     data-ad-format="auto"></ins>
<script>
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
</script>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrXKmMJvQF1gJRyLCrweVtCb5JdvShGJemqYtdHbwevzabQZ2cryFsAuuQxDglExAd0-9sFzDW488XZd5KJixaQgGRyCo16PvsqyKHD7NaiF4maFK7zNaoD_NDQQr5G5cAC9VC2w7REeGU/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrXKmMJvQF1gJRyLCrweVtCb5JdvShGJemqYtdHbwevzabQZ2cryFsAuuQxDglExAd0-9sFzDW488XZd5KJixaQgGRyCo16PvsqyKHD7NaiF4maFK7zNaoD_NDQQr5G5cAC9VC2w7REeGU/s400/1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><i><b>Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The leadership of the Peoples Democratic 
Party and its All Progressives Congress counterpart in Edo State have 
disagreed over the recent bailout loan received by the state government 
from the Federal Government to cushion the effects of dwindling oil 
revenue.
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Edo, being part of the beneficiaries of 
the bailout, had received the sum of N3.1bn to enable it to meet up with
 its financial obligation to local governments’ workers.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
But the state Chairman of the PDP, Chief
 Dan Orbih, said that the move by the Federal Government would 
“encourage corruption” and “monumental mismanagement” of local 
governments’ allocations in Edo and other states.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Orbih, who spoke on Saturday during the 
official opening of the party’s new state secretariat located on First 
East Circular Road in Benin, therefore, urged President Muhammadu Buhari
 to discontinue any further disbursement to the states.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Also in attendance were serving and 
former National Assembly members from the party, including Senator 
Matthew Urhoghide (Edo South), Senator Ehigie Uzamere and Senator Odion 
Ugbesia, as well as leaders of the PDP in the state.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
However, the chairman, who said that 
Oredo council allegedly received only N102m, out of its statutory 
allocation of N1.067bn between January and September, 2015, urged the 
President to probe the allocation of council funds by the Edo State 
Government.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
He also called for the immediate 
reinstatement of the suspended council chairmen, which he described as 
politically- motivated and not based on accountability.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Orbih said, “There is, no doubt, that 
there is monumental mismanagement of local government allocation in Edo 
State under Adams Oshiomhole. That is why on this very occasion of the 
official opening of the PDP headquarters in Benin City, I want to call 
on President Buhari to stop the present practice of payment of financial
 bailout.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“Financial bailout by Buhari is a way of
 encouraging corruption in Nigeria. They (governors) have enough 
allocation for the local governments; so, the question the President 
should ask is: what is responsible for this government not being able to
 meet its financial obligations to the people in various local 
governments?”</div>
<script async src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>

<ins class="adsbygoogle"
     style="display:block"
     data-ad-client="ca-pub-8376079553520515"
     data-ad-slot="9503932789"
     data-ad-format="auto"></ins>
<script>
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
</script>

Edo PDP, APC clash over FG bailout

Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party and its All Progressives Congress counterpart...

Contact Form