The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • INEC removes Doguwa’s name from Reps-elect list

    INEC removes Doguwa’s name from Reps-elect list

    House of Representatives Leader, Alhassan Doguwa, will not be among the members-elect to be presented with their certificates of return by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) today in Abuja.

    Doguwa’s name was missing from the official list of winners of the House of Representatives elections released yesterday.

    The commission stated in the comments section that the declaration for the Doguwa/Tudun Wada Federal Constituency of Kano State was made under duress.

    The Federal High Court in Kano on Monday granted Doguwa bail following his detention over alleged complicity in the murder of three members of his constituency.

    He was arrested along with others over alleged criminal conspiracy and culpable homicide.

    He was also charged with causing grievous hurt, mischief by fire, and inciting disturbance a day after the election at the Tudun Wada Local Government Area.

    The police said the offences are contrary to sections 97, 114, 221,247 and 336 of the penal code.

    Doguwa’s lawyer, Nureini Jimoh (SAN), approached the Federal High Court and sought his bail on the ground that the magistrate lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the case.

    Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila will be leading other old and new members to the International Conference Centre to receive their certificates of return.

    Of the about 358 seats so far declared by INEC, less than one-third of them are old and returning members, while a little over two-thirds are new.

    About 135 serving members did not get their parties’ tickets, while many of those who got tickets failed to win.

    While only six of the 43 members from the Southeast are returning to the House, a few others have been elected to the Senate while Umar Bago is contesting for the governorship in Niger State.

    The entire leadership of the Minority Caucus of the House will not be part of the House as they all lost their re-election bids.

    Minority Leader Ndudi Elumelu lost his seat to the Labour Party (LP) candidate; Deputy Minority Leader, Toby Okechukwu, failed to secure the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) nomination to contest the election.

    Minority Whip and his deputy, Gideon Gwani and Adekoya Abdulmujeed lost their seats to the LP and the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kaduna and Ogun states.

  • Daniel, Jimoh, Bamidele, 98 senators-elect get CoR

    Daniel, Jimoh, Bamidele, 98 senators-elect get CoR

    Only three women were among the 101 Senators-elect who received their certificates of return from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday.

    They include Rivers State Deputy Governor, Ipilabo Banigo; former Lagos Deputy Governor Idiat Adebule and the wife of former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Ireti Kingibe.

    Senators-elect who collected their certificates are former governors Adams Osiomhole (Edo), Orji Uzor Kalu (Abia), Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom), Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa), Dave Umahi (Ebonyi), Danjuma Goje (Gombe) and Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo (Gombe).

    Others are Abdulaziz Yari (Zamara), Adamu Aliero (Kebbi), Gbenga Daniel (Ogun East) and Ibrahim Gaidam (Yobe).

    Solomon Adeola (Ogun West), former All Progressives Congress (APC) National Publicity Osita Izunaso, younger brother to late President Umaru Yar’adua, Abdulaziz Yar’adua, also received theirs, among others.

    House of Representatives members who won election into the Senate include Darlington Nwkocha (Abia), Mohammed Tahir Monguno (Borno), Yemi Adaramodu (Ekiti), Nasir Zango-Daura (Katsina) and Muntar Dandutse (Katsina).

    Former Kano State governor and Senator-elect for Kano Central, Ibrahim Shekaru, failed to collect his certificate.

    Shekarau was declared the winner of the Kano Central Senatorial District on the platform of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).

    But he allegedly resigned his membership before the election and wrote to inform the party that he was no longer interested in its ticket.

    The party went to court to compel INEC to replace Shekarau with another candidate, but INEC was said to have informed them that the former Kano governor can only be replaced in a situation of death or incapacitation.

    After the declaration of the result, NNPP agent, Shehu Usman, rejected Shekarau as the rightful candidate. 

    He claimed INEC refused to replace Shekarau with Rufai Hanga.

    Usman claimed there was a court order directing INEC to accept Hanga as the right candidate for the election.

    Daniel advocates government of National Unity 

    Daniel called for a government of national unity, saying the country needed to close ranks.

    Speaking after receiving his certificate, he urged those who failed to secure the mandate of their people to join hands with those who won to develop the country.

    He said: “The biggest challenge we have is to unite as a people and for those who won to extend their hands of fellowship, and if possible, form a government of national unity. 

    “For those who have not made it, they should cooperate with those who took the mantle. Another four years is not too far.”

    ‘Tinubu will revisit power sector reform’ 

    Oshiomhole said the 10th National Assembly will work with the President to ensure good governance.

    He said: “There are a lot of things that we can do differently, a lot of policies that can be reviewed so that things are done differently so that the renewed hope agenda of our party can be translated to reality.

    “I am sure that even the President-elect is not looking forward to a rubber stamp Assembly but one that can help to contribute ideas to enrich the system.

    “Working together, comparing ideas and negotiating, you can arrive at a win-win formula for the greater good of the people.”

    He said the APC administration will revisit the power sector reform.

    “That is something worth doing if we are to have sustainable growth and grow the GDP. How you deal with issues of power reform is important.

    “The current reform was done in such a way that those who are involved right now are those who know next to nothing about power distribution. 

    “So, we have to find the courage to deal with that,” the former Edo governor said.

    ‘My plans for women, FCT’ 

    Kingibe said she will ensure women and the people of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) get the kind of representation they deserve.

    She said: “I understand the issues of women. I also understand that without women being empowered and being part of our empirical development, we can’t fully develop. Those are the things I intend to work on. 

    “I also understand that a huge part of our population is young and that the older generation is not focusing on them. I will focus on them.

    “I will protect the interest of the people of the FCT because there are many ways their interest can be protected. 

    “The truth is that when the constitution was being made, it made the FCT the Federal Capital Territory and not a state.

    “There are a lot of benefits the FCT can get through policies which the indigenous Senators and House of Representatives members did not raise.

    “For instance, there is the health fund which we can access like every other state which we are not accessing because we did not write the necessary policies.

    “There is also the education fund which we are not accessing because we have not written the necessary policies.

    “As we write these policies and go along, we will get to that point when we can tell the President to get somebody from the FCT as part of ministers from the Northcentral. There are many ways of getting what you want.

    “We cannot get it right by standing and saying we want it. We have to do the work that will enable us to get it.

    “The indigenous young people are not as educated as those from other parts. We will see how we can set up a scholarship fund.”

  • Fagbemi to lead APC’s legal team at presidential election tribunal

    Fagbemi to lead APC’s legal team at presidential election tribunal

    AHEAD of the take-off of proceedings at the Presidential Election Tribunal, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday named a 12-man team of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) to represent it at the petitions tribunal.

    The team is comprised of legal luminaries with vast experience in election petition matters, constitutional law, and litigation.

    The composition of the APC legal team came a day after 50 SANs, led by Chief Wole Olankpekun were unveiled by the APC Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) as members of the team that will defend the victory of President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

    In a statement in Abuja yesterday by APC’s  National Legal Adviser Ahmad Usman El-Marzuq, said Prince Lateef Fagbemi SAN, a renowned lawyer, who has successfully handled high-profile election matters will lead the party’s team to the tribunal.

    He listed all-SANs members of the team as: Lateef Fagbemi; Sam Ologunorisa; Rotimi Oguneso; Olabisi Soyebo; Gboyega Oyewoke; Murutala Oyewole; Aliyu Omeiza Saiki; Tajudeen Oladoja; Pius Akubo; Oluseye Opasanya; Suraju Saida; Kazeem Adeniyi and the party’s National Legal Adviser.

    Expressing confidence for victory, El-Marzuq said: “We are confident that the legal team possesses requisite expertise and experience to ensure a successful outcome for the APC in the Presidential Election Petition matters.

    “We urge members of the Party to support the team in its effort to defend the will and mandate of the people. We also call on all parties involved to conduct themselves with the utmost professionalism and respect for the rule of law throughout the legal process.”

  • Unite for stable, prosperous Nigeria, election winners, losers urged

    Unite for stable, prosperous Nigeria, election winners, losers urged

    WINNERS and losers in the February 25 presidential and National Assembly polls got a piece of advice yesterday from a youth empowerment organisation – I Am Change – they should collaborate to build a stable, prosperous country.

    Its founder Hafsatu Shinkafi urged Nigerians to avoid statements or conducts that could aggravate the charged political situation.

    Shinkafi, in a statement titled “2023 elections: matters arising and a call for calm”, urged for restraint and calm, adding that all aggrieved politicians should approach the courts for the resolution of their disputes.

    Urging the judiciary to be fair and electoral winners to be magnanimous in victory, she noted that the entire political process is about the country’s stability and economic advancement. 

    She said: “The long-awaited Nigerian presidential election conducted on the 25th February 2023 has come to an end.

    “As with all electoral, and indeed every political and democratic process, this election has ushered in varied perspectives, opinions and dispositions among Nigerians.

    “You may recall that I Am Change organised a pre-election conference entitled 2023 Elections: Citizens’ Pre-Election Awareness and the Role of Stakeholders in Post-Election Stability on 26th January 2023, where major stakeholders, including INEC, Civil Society, Judiciary, the Media, Politicians and Security experts discussed extensively, the preparations, sociopolitical atmosphere and post-election issues.”

    She noted that from the discussions at the conference, it was widely agreed that INEC was sufficiently prepared for the elections, while the security agencies did not shy away from indicating their readiness to protect Nigerians during and after the elections.

    Shinkafi said: “As pointed out by legal experts, it was very likely that electoral results would end up being debated in the courtrooms, making the judiciary the final arbiters in the whole process.

    “The electoral processes were largely peaceful, thanks to the gallant security agencies, despite a number of protests that followed the announcement of the results.

    “The conduct of the aggrieved politicians has also been commendable as they have shown their intention to seek redress at the courts instead of resorting to violence. This is equally commendable in a democracy.”

    She commended the President-elect Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and his ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) party for extending an olive branch to the opposition parties in the interest of national unity.

    Shinkafi said: “The news that the winning party has sought the cooperation of the opposition parties in an attempt to form a government of national unity and give the country a common political cause is deeply thoughtful and an important step towards healing the wounds, advancing national cohesion and promoting political progress of the country.

    “Given the charged political situation, we deem it fit to call on all Nigerians to exercise restraint and stay calm, and all aggrieved politicians to approach the courts and not take the laws into their hands.

    “The judicial system, empowered by the 2022 Electoral Act is well positioned to ensure justice and fairness to all Nigerians. We call on the judiciary to not compromise the system and to allow the law to take its natural course.

    “Finally, we advise those who won to be magnanimous in victory and to all those who lost to accept their fate and support the winners to build our country. The whole process is about the stability and prosperity of Nigeria.”

  • INEC attempting to erase evidence, PDP alleges

    INEC attempting to erase evidence, PDP alleges

    THE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday claimed that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was attempting to destroy and erase evidence of rigging in the February 25 presidential election.

    Its National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba told reporters at news briefing that the electoral umpire was in desperate move to prevent the PDP and its presidential candidate from obtaining necessary evidence by seeking an ordered of the court to reconfigure the BVAS machines.

    According to the PDP, the request by INEC would wipe out relevant information that the party and its candidate require to prosecute their case at the Presidential Election Tribunal.

    Ologunagba said: “This reprehensible action by INEC to frustrate the desire of Nigerians to get redress through the court is a clear recipe for crisis…”

    According to the PDP spokesman, the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu hurriedly announced a winner in the election despite allegation of malpractices and violation of several provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022 by INEC and its officials.

    He alleged: “The INEC chairman bypassed all the steps and procedures provided by the Electoral Act, 2022 for the declaration of results, including to announce and declare only results that were transmitted directly from the polling units to the INEC server/website and to review the results in the event of disputes and objections as to the correctness and consistency of the collated results.”

    The party cited Section 64 (6) of the Electoral Act to buttress its point.

  • Will old N500, N1000 notes boost domestic cash liquidity?

    Will old N500, N1000 notes boost domestic cash liquidity?

    Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) have commenced payment of old N500 and N1,000 notes to customers across the counter. Analysts predict that releasing the old notes back to circulation will reduce the lingering cash crunch and enhance liquidity. Assistant Business Editor COLLINS NWEZE writes that although the move will raise currency-in-circulation, the impact of the development will depend on banks making the notes readily available to cash-starved Nigerians.

    Currency-in-circulation is expected to rise as banks begin to recirculate old N500 and N1,000 notes.

    The move follows the Supreme Court judgment that extended the old notes’validity to December 31.

    Many customers said the re-circulation of the old naira notes has brought marginal reprieve to the lingering cash crunch.

    Already, some banks have started paying the old notes to customers across-the-counter and Automated Teller Machines (ATMs). 

    The reports said some banks’ branches in Lagos, Abuja, Kwara, Kano, and Port Harcourt were paying customers with the old notes. 

    Confirming on the development, a Lagos-based bank customer, Johnson Okanlawon, said two commercial banks’ branches in Iyana Ipaja were not only paying the old notes across the counter, but also loading their ATMs with these notes, from where customers were being paid.

    “I sent my salesgirl to one of the banks in Iyana Ipaja to deposit old notes into my account.  She came bank to inform me that even the banks had resumed payment of the old notes to their customers. We have also seen customers freely buying and selling in the old notes, within that axis,” Okanlawon said. 

    Another bank customer, Michael Okon, said he had N50,000 old notes, and was planning to take  them to the CBN before the new development.

    “I am excited at this turn of events. It will save me the pain of taking it to the banks and also help settle my immediate cash needs,” he said.

    Despite this move, long queues have continued at the branches of banks across the country.

    At many branches visited on Victoria Island, and at Matori and Obanikoro, Lagos, there was no cash payment across the counter, thereby giving room for long queues.

    Many of the banks’ branches are still not open for business, and the few that open their branches close early.

    “Banks have continued to ration cash to customers, limiting withdrawals to between N10,000 and N20,000 daily. The long queues at few of the ATMs dispensing cash, meant customers have to stay for long hours before they could get cash. I waited for three hours from 8.am to 11 am before I was paid N5,000. I will be back tomorrow because the N5,000 cannot meet my financial needs,” a customer said. 

    At the Federal Capital Territory (FCT),  customers who besieged banks to collect cash were disappointed as the many banks were not paying. Investigations showed that only a few banks were paying every customer N5,000.

    Many bank customers are unable to make cash withdrawals across the counter, and also through ATMs. 

    “I have checked in over 10 banks’ ATMs and none of them was dispensing cash. I expected the cash crunch to ease after the Presidential election, but that is not happening,’’ one bank customer lamented.

    Although checks across several banks’ branches in Ibeju-Lekki, Victoria Island, the lingering cash scarcity has not abated.

    At the Ibeju-Lekki branch of one of the commercial banks, bank officials told the customers who gathered at the branch that there was no cash.

    “We do not have cash to pay anybody. We only attend to customers carrying out intra and interbank transfers, and activation of ATM cards,” a bank worker stated.

    Analysts  have called for more clarity on how the old N500 and N1000 notes return into circulation.

    One of them said: “According to them, the Supreme Court judgment would not be impactful if the old notes were not released by the CBN into the banking system. If the money is not released to the financial sector by the Central Bank of Nigeria, the judgment may not have any effect.”

    In a unanimous judgment, a seven-member panel of Justices presided by Justice Inyang Okoro recently held that the directive by President Muhammadu Buhari to the CBN for the redesigning and withdrawal of old notes of N200, N500 and N1,000, without consultation with the states, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) and the National Council of State and other stakeholders, was unconstitutional.

    The apex court observed that no reasonable notice was given before the implementation of the policy as stated in the CBN Act.

    CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele said currency management was a key function of the CBN, as enshrined in  Section 2(b) of the CBN Act 2007. Indeed, the integrity of a  legal tender, the efficiency of its supply, as well as its efficacy in the conduct of monetary policy are some of the hallmarks of a great central bank.

    “Besides, the practice across the globe is that a central bank should normally redesign its currency within five to eight years. From the onset of this currency redesign programme, we made it clear that for over 19 years, the CBN has not been able to undertake this important currency and liquidity management function that has important ramification for the effectiveness of monetary policy. 

    “Also, we aim to increase financial inclusion in the country by reducing the number of the unbanked population. Thirdly, our aim is to support the efforts of our security agencies in combating banditry and ransom-taking in Nigeria through this programme and we can see that the Military are making good progress in this important,” Emefiele said.

    Earlier, Emefiele said the apex bank was aware of the difficulty being faced by Nigerians in accessing the new currency at this initial stage of its issue and circulation,  but wished to plead with them to show some understanding  as everything was being done to correct some of the  lapses in the implementation of the policy. 

    Emefiele assured   Nigerians that the apex bank was working with the Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) and other stakeholders such as the EFCC, the ICPC and the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) to ensure that the ultimate goal, which is to deliver to Nigerians, a new currency that meets global standards, is achieved. 

    It would be recalled that besides  monitoring, the apex bank had commenced a nationwide sensitisation on the redesigned notes to Nigerians to reach  Nigerians across multiple channels.

    It deployed 30,000 Super Agents in assisting the Cash Swap initiative in the rural areas, and regions underserved by banks to ensure that the weak and vulnerable ones werwe able to sswap/exchange their old notes.

    Available data at the CBN showed that in 2015, Currency-in-Circulation was only N1.4 trillion. As of last October, currency in circulation had risen to N3.23 trillion; out of which only N500 billion was within the banking system and N2.7 trillion held in homes. 

    “Ordinarily, when CBN releases currency into circulation, it is meant to be used and after effluxion of time, it returns to the CBN, thereby keeping the volume of currency in circulation under the firm control of the CBN. It should also be noted that the notes in private homes and outside the banking system are not available for economic activities and thus may affect the economy attaining its potential growth,” Emefiele said.

  • Don’t succumb to PDP, LP intimidation, groups tell INEC

    Don’t succumb to PDP, LP intimidation, groups tell INEC

    • Opposition supporters protest

    By Jide Orintunsin, Gbade Ogunwale, Abuja and Osagie Otabor, Akure

    A Coalition comprising several support groups of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has told the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to be intimidated by protests of what it called the rag-tag opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party (LP).

    The coalition, under the aegis of Tinubu Support Groups (TSG), spoke during a rally in support of President-elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu yesterday in Abuja.

    This happened as another pro-Atiku group, the Coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CCSOs), called for the resignation of INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu.

    The two opposing groups met at the headquarters of the electoral body.

    Secretary of the Support Groups Coordination of the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council (APC PCC), Tosin Adeyanju, called the procession “Solidarity Walk in Defence of Democracy.”

    He said the peace walk was also in defence of the mandate Nigerians gave Tinubu and all elected members of the National Assembly as declared by INEC.

    Adeyanju advised the leadership of the electoral umpire to discountenance the protests by the opposition, saying their action was an exercise in futility.

    He said: “We came to commend you (INEC) for the good job you did in the last presidential election. Nigerian youths are with you; Nigerian women are with you. Do not be intimidated by the rag-tag PDP and Labour Party.

    “We are here to protect the mandate freely given by Nigerians to Asiwaju. He won overwhelmingly across the country. He will be President for all.”

    Another pro-Atiku group, comprising 18 CSOs, stormed the INEC headquarters yesterday to reject the result of the presidential poll.

    Addressing reporters at the commission’s headquarters, the coalition’s Convener Dada Olayinka said before the election, INEC raised the hope of Nigerians that it would conduct a free, fair and credible general election.

    Also, youths of the Southwest have cautioned Abubakar against setting the country on fire.

    They said the PDP leaders’ protest march in Abuja, led by Atiku, was unnecessary and a dent on his democratic credentials.

    The youths, under the aegis of Yoruba Youths Movement, the Southwest youths, said the country cannot risk any form of electoral violence that could plunge the country into chaos.

    The group’s National President, Prince Usman Bamidele, warned those he called mischief makers not to allow themselves to be used to truncate the nation’s fledgling democracy and representative government as well as disturb the peace and stability of the country.

    “While we appeal to all the presidential candidates to explore judicial means to seek redress for any injustice and manipulations they might notice during and after the

    elections, we also appeal to all well-meaning Nigerians to eschew violence and at the same time warn in unequivocal term that we shall not hesitate to prove to them (even on the street) that nobody has monopoly of violence.

    “We want to warmly congratulate Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the President-elect, for a victory well deserved. We equally, in this regard, want to enjoin him to kick-start the national healing by embracing all his co-contestants in the last election.”

  • Five political parties eyeing Taraba Government House

    Five political parties eyeing Taraba Government House

    Five political parties are in the race to occupy the Taraba State Government House when Governor Darius Ishaku who is concluding his second term leaves office in May. Correspondent VICTOR GAI gives an insight into what to expect during the contest on Saturday

    With the conclusion of the presidential polls, the stage is now set for Saturday’s governorship polls. Going by the outcome of the presidential elections, Nigerians would be expecting some surprises in some states.

    In Taraba, the election would be a litmus test for the governing party, the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP). The candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Emmanuel Bwacha appears to be the main challenger of the PDP in this election. The question now on the lips of many residents of Taraba State is whether the political status quo would be changed or maintained.

    There are five major contenders in the election. They are Col. Agbu Kefas of the PDP, Bwacha of the APC, Danladi Baido of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Professor Sani Yahaya of the New Nigeria Peoples’ Party (NNPP) and Joel Ikenya of the Labour Party (LP).

    The factors that would determine the outcome of the election are history, the outcome of the presidential election, ethnicity, religion and pedigree of the various candidates.

    Going by history, Taraba has been governed by the PDP since the return to civil rule in 1999. It is the only PDP state in the north that has never fallen to the opposition. Therefore, the likelihood is that the PDP would hold sway at the end of the day. This is so because the Taraba electorate is more disposed to the party rather than the candidate.

    The outcome of the just concluded presidential election also confirms the above position. The PDP scored 189,017 votes to emerge victorious in the election. Incidentally, the Labour Party (LP), which was initially regarded as a party without the potential to make any meaningful impact in the election, came second with 146,315 votes, while the main opposition, the APC came third with 135,165 votes. The NNPP came a distant fourth with 12,818 votes.

    Meanwhile, the two major contenders in the governorship race, the APC and the PDP have been battling to put their houses in order. The division in their fold is a result of court litigations emanating from their governorship primaries. This, observers say, could put the chances of the two parties in jeopardy.

    Many important and influential members of both parties are so aggrieved and it is doubtful whether they would work for the success of the party in this weekend’s governorship election. For instance, former PDP Chairman, Victor Bala Kona and former Speaker, Joseph Albasu Kunini have gone on sabbaticals and are not likely to work for the party’s success in the election.

    Worse still, a serving member of the House of Representatives, Danladi Baido has in the wake of this development defected to the SDP in protest of the mismanagement of party affairs. Governor Darius Ishaku who happens to be the leader of the party was alleged to have fallen out with the governorship candidate and as a result, may not support him to win the contest.

    Besides, close watchers of Taraba politics say the governor no longer has a firm grip on the party ahead of the ongoing general elections. The humiliation of the governor in the just concluded National Assembly elections by a relatively unknown candidate added salt to injury. Governor Ishaku has lost the Taraba South senatorial district election. He lost the election to the opposition candidate of the APC, David Jimkuta.

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) last Monday announced the election result in the Wukari Local Government Area – the senatorial headquarters of the Taraba South Senatorial District. The INEC returning officer, Solomon Adeyeye, a professor, said Mr Jimkuta polled 85,415 votes to defeat the incumbent governor and candidate of the PDP who polled 45,708 votes. The governor who is completing his second term in office was defeated by a margin of 39,707 votes.

    The APC is also going into Saturday’s governorship with a plethora of challenges. Some persons that matter in the party are not with the governorship flag bearer, Emmanuel Bwacha. Individuals like David Sabo Kente, the lawmaker representing Taraba Central, Yusuf A. Yusuf, Sani Abubakar Danladi and former Minister Saleh Mamman have all refused to support Bwacha owing to the disagreement over the primary that produced him as the party’s flag bearer in the election.

    Nevertheless, Bwacha still stands out among the lot based on his experience, popularity and grassroots connection. The popular belief among Tarabans now is that Bwacha remains the biggest threat to the PDP candidate. Being a Christian, he is likely to get a chunk of the Christian vote, in addition to the traditional Muslim bloc vote that usually backs the APC.

    The PDP candidate, Kefas, was the party’s former chairman. Quite unassuming and perceived as docile, Kefas was a former security chief. It is believed that he acts more than he speaks. He is full of optimism about transforming the fortunes of the state if elected. But he would face stiff competition from other candidates who are more grounded politically.

    The candidate of the NNPP, Professor Sani Yahaya was an aggrieved governorship aspirant of the APC who jumped ship to the NNPP. Observers say,  should the APC and the PDP fail to put their houses in order, Yahaya might steal the show with a huge Hausa/Fulani Kwankwasiya vote in his kitty.

    Also, Danladi Baido, the National Assembly member is a grassroots politician of considerable experience. He has been doing his campaigns underground. With little or no structure in the state, his chances are limited but he might spring a surprise, especially for the PDP where he came from.

    Finally, the good showing of the LP flag bearer, Peter Obi during the just concluded presidential election in the state might be a tonic for Joel Ikenya of the Labour Party. The massive votes the LP garnered in the election if replicated during the governorship polls might give Ikenya the victory. This is in the face of the crisis in both the APC and the PDP.

    With his grassroots connection and popularity, Ikenya might pull a surprise. After all, the just concluded presidential election has proven that no candidate is a pushover in any election.

    Meanwhile, the recent endorsement of the PDP candidate, Kefas, by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Taraba State chapter, may have triggered a move by the opposition to join forces to wrestle power from the ruling party.

    Being a predominately Christian state, religion is a major factor in Taraba politics. CAN has always been a player in Taraba politics; it often endorses its favourite candidate. It is not different this time around. CAN) had, in a letter signed by the State Secretary, Bishop Manasseh Silas Rifore, asked Christians to vote for the PDP governorship candidate.

    The letter reads: “I have been mandated to instruct all bloc leaders, local government coordinators and the CAN wing to strictly adhere to the following: A single choice from the five governorship candidates must be made so that the Christian votes will not be split. Secondly, dire caution must be exercised so that we Christians don’t lose our ancestral land to another faith.

    “All Christians in Taraba State are hereby directed to accept, mobilize and massively vote Col. Agbu Kefas (rtd) of the PDP as the endorsed candidate for the governorship election.”

    The sudden endorsement has however created ripples in the camp of the opposition. The likes of Bwacha, Baido and Kefas rallied around with the sole motive of forging an alliance. The Nation learnt that the endorsement came against the fear that Christian votes might be split among the four Christian candidates, thereby giving the only Muslim candidate the advantage with a bloc Muslim vote. Moreso, the Muslim community, in reaction to CAN’s endorsement of Kefas, are bracing to give massive votes for the only Muslim candidate, Sani Yahaya.

    The LP candidate, Ikenya said the people of Taraba should not be influenced in making their choice. He said: “Presently we are more divided than before and as a responsible person it is not fair. They (CAN) have gone out of their schedule. Some of us feel ashamed to call ourselves Tarabans when we go out. We want a homegrown politician to take over Taraba. One who will not be easily influenced by anybody. We want to be remote controlled by the people. We want Tarabans to choose whomever they want to choose. We will remain committed to our people.”

    A visibly angry Baido also expressed his sadness over the endorsement and vowed that such would be the last time it would happen. He said: “I am highly disappointed for people who call themselves men of God and would not represent us. My heart bleeds. Three of us here, can the PDP candidate march any one of us? We are grounded in Taraba politics for over 30 years. This will be the last time this will happen. Nobody will play pranks in the name of Christianity. Taraba people should know that CAN has been politicized. They have taken sides with the PDP. Taraba State is not a company.”

    But, the alliance of the opposition parties is not likely to have any meaningful impact on the election, as none of them is ready to step down for another. The election promises to be a tight race going by the just concluded presidential election. The PDP scored 189,017 votes to beat the LP which scored 146,315 votes, with the APC following closely with 135,165 votes. Others are the NNPP 12,818 votes, the APGA 4526 votes, the SDP 4000 votes and the PRP 579 votes.

  • Rivers APC PCC/ICC crisis deepens

    Rivers APC PCC/ICC crisis deepens

    Ahead of Saturday’s governorship and House of Assembly elections, members of the Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) are yet to sheathe their swords and pledge to work together. The crisis in the Tony Okocha-led faction of the APC Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) and the Augustine Nwokocha-led Tinubu/Shettima Independent campaign Council (ICC) is tearing the party apart. ROSEMARY NWISI reports

    The outstanding performance of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the recent presidential election in Rivers State and the country at large ought to have put to rest the internal crisis that has bedevilled the party in the last five years.

    But, that is not the case. Ahead of Saturday’s governorship and House of Assembly elections, members are yet to sheathe their swords and pledge to work together. The crisis in the Tony Okocha-led faction of the APC Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) and the Augustine Nwokocha-led Tinubu/Shettima Independent campaign Council (ICC) is tearing the party apart.

    The leadership of the two groups worked together to achieve success ahead of the presidential election in the South-south state.

    They had pulled out from the main PCC/ICC faction led by Tonye Cole who is the party’s governorship candidate, after accusing him and other members loyal to the former Transportation Minister, Chibuike Amaechi of not convening any PCC/ICC meeting since its inauguration in last December and less than three weeks to the party’s presidential rally in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

    Cole and his group were equally accused of not being interested in the victory of Asiwaju and Shettima in the polls, hence they were not canvassing for votes for them.

    This led to the formation of “Concerned APC PCC/ICC group by Okocha and other PCC members who believed that it was a deliberate ploy by Cole and others to stall Asiwaju’s victory in the election in the state and took it upon themselves to change the alleged plans.

    The group chose Okocha to lead the team, and today the expected victory, as their candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu is now president-elect.

    However, trouble began when last week, Okocha in a statement recognised and hailed the contributions of Governor Nyesom Wike in financial and human resources contributions, which he believed led to Asiwaju’s victory in Rivers State and boasted his chances of winning in general.

    Okocha in the statement thanked Wike for changing the hitherto poor election results APC is known for in the state over the years and pushed the party to victory after years of “abysmal” performances in elections. He pledged that the group would reciprocate the governor’s kindness by throwing their weight behind the PDP governorship candidate, rather than the APC candidate in Saturday’s election.

    However, the decision did not go down well with Nwokocha, who is the APC ICC coordinator and other officers of the Okocha breakaway APC PCC/ICC, who quickly countered the position in another statement over the weekend, declaring that Okocha spoke for himself and not for the PCC/ICC in a statement he issued.

    The counter-statement was signed by Nwokocha and two other executives of the Okocha faction of the PCC. They attributed Asiwaju’s victory in the state to his outstanding records as an astute politician, his sterling achievements as governor of Lagos State and his acceptance by Rivers people, as well as contributions by several groups and individuals who worked for the victory. They said it has nothing to do with  Wike’s efforts as claimed by Okocha.

    In the statement, Nwokocha urged voters in Rivers State to reject Okocha and the candidate he was trying to foist on the people. Rather, he added that Rivers people should vote for the candidate of their choice because the APC PCC/ICC is not in agreement with him (Okocha) on the choice.

    The former commissioner for power also denied the claim that Wike donated a huge amount of money to APC PCC/ICC which helped in delivering the party presidential candidate in the state. Nwokocha said even if the governor made such donations, the gesture is not enough justification for the Rivers APC to endorse the PDP governorship candidate because “the money is part of Rivers State commonwealth and not Wike’s wealth. As a result, he said credit should go to Rivers people and not Wike.

    In a swift reply, Okocha declared himself the leader of APC in Rivers State, saying that Nwokocha and the other two officers who signed the counter statement are members of the Social Democratic Party (SDP). He said they knew about it all along but decided to cover them up in the overall interest of peace and harmony in the APC ahead of the presidential election.

    Okocha warned them to concentrate on their party and stop all forms of meddlesomeness in APC affairs forthwith.

    In the statement, the South-south zonal coordinator of the coalition of support groups said: “Knowing the tendencies that made up the PCC/ICC, our leader, a core democrat announced that we all made contributions as usual to the states to adopt the PDP candidate in the forthcoming governorship election. What was read out was a unanimous decision of the concerned PCC/ICC members who were present at the meeting. Unfortunately, Austin Nwokocha, Ineye Jack and King Wenenda Wonukwuru were conspicuously absent in that session without prior notice.

    “Reading their rebuttal to our decision as contained in the stated text of the press conference, has forced us to reflect deeply about their fidelity to Tinubu/Shettima’s presidency. Our findings have revealed that the three who signed the statement are senior members of the SDP in Rivers State. Therefore, it is surprising that they kicked against the collective decision.”

    However, reacting to the claim by Okocha that he is now the leader of the APC in the state, the party spokesman, Darlington Nwuju, dismissed the claims, and insisted that Okocha is not an APC member, but just a member of Asiwaju Presidential Campaign support group.

    Nwuju added that when the chips are down, everything will be exposed, and everybody will know where he belongs.

    To justify his claim that he is the leader of the party, Okocha noted that he rose to that position after its former occupant, Amaechi failed to support Asiwaju in the recent polls and did not also vote for him, but rather chose to vote for PDP candidate, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, which led to Tinubu and the APC losing the election in his (Amaechi’s) polling unit in Ubima, Ikwerre Council area, while he (Okocha) delivered his unit to the APC and Tinubu.

  • Makinde: Reversing APC gains in Oyo

    Makinde: Reversing APC gains in Oyo

    After the February 25 presidential election victory for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State, Governor Seyi Makinde is fast reversing the gains of the opposition party to consolidate on his popularity ahead of the Saturday’s governorship election, writes Southwest Bureau Chief BISI OLADELE

    Though the February 25 presidential election in Oyo State left echoes of pains for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Governor Seyi Makinde is reversing the gains for the Oyo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The APC presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, had polled 449,884 to defeat Atiku Abubakar of PDP who polled 182,977 votes and Peter Obi of Labour Party (LP) who scored 99,110 votes. The APC also won the three senatorial elections and the majority of House of Representatives seats.

    The development unsettled the PDP with many party chieftains and candidates blaming the poor performance on the  G-5 factor. Makinde is one of the five PDP governors who formed G-5. They did not campaign for Atiku in their states because the national chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, refused to resign to allow a southerner replace him for inclusiveness.

    While the Oyo APC revelled in the gains, however, Makinde embarked on deft moves to reverse the gains and ensure that his popularity in the governorship election remains intact.

    Though Oyo APC has made efforts to build on the presidential election momentum by engaging many more stakeholders to sell its governorship candidate, Teslim Folarin, and state Assembly candidates, Makinde is leaving no stone unturned in trumpeting his achievements and the need to allow him sustain them for the next four years.

    He has also appeased National Assembly candidates who suffered electoral rout on February 25, and daily meeting groups, associations and community leaders, explaining the reason he should be re-elected.

    The governor is also winning more endorsements and alliances with other political parties and religious groups. For instance, the LP leadership in the state announced Makinde’s endorsement at the weekend, even at the expense of its own governorship candidate. Observers say more of such alliances should be expected.

    While all these are ongoing, Makinde is commissioning new projects to consolidate his popularity. For instance, the governor commissioned the aviation fuel tank depot, Ibadan dualized airport Road and Dr Omololu Olunloyo Park on Friday.

    The aviation fuel depot is a game changer for the Ibadan airport.

    With the depot, experts say aircrafts can now comfortably stop over to pick or drop passengers and cargo at Ibadan airport. Airlines can also airlift passengers for long haul international flights at the airport due to the availability of fuelling facility.

    According to an expert who did not want his name in print, airlines can now fly to international destinations from Ibadan airport once a waiver is sought from the Federal Government for such flights.

    He said: “The facility allows airlines to fly longer routes from Ibadan airport. The facility also supports operations as transit airport as well as full length flights to and from the airport.

    “Larger planes can also land at the airport now because they can take energy to go longer routes.

    “Aircrafts can also load other items from the airport. The facility opened a new vista for cargo services. The Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) only needs to add a few facilities to enable full operation of cargo services at Ibadan airport because rule dump is available for airlines.

    “All these translate to more businesses for the people of Ibadan. If the government constructs a larger hanger, Ibadan airport will simply become a hub because it is now easy for airlines to pick and drop passengers since they can refuel.

    “Remember that the road leading to the airport has now been dualized by the governor. Add that to the already dualized Old Ife Road and the ongoing reconstruction of New Ife Road. So, things are being made perfect about the airport.”

    Makinde’s Ibadan airport success is an answered prayer for fliers and National Assembly members who had previously laboured in vain to get the FAAN to upgrade the airport for cargo services.

    For Makinde, his achievements speak for themselves, and are considered good enough to earn him a second term.

    But the Oyo APC sees it otherwise. It says the governor is a failure who should not be allowed to continue. It lists thuggery, poor secondary education management and paralysis of the local government as reasons Makinde should be sacked.

    The Accord Party candidate Bayo Adelabu, is also insisting that none of the other candidates is as qualified as he is, having served as deputy governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), served as the chairman of Oyo State Security Trust Fund, and has 80 per cent of his investments in the state.

    But with the power of incumbency, achievements and personal popularity, Makinde is the man to beat in the election.

    As March 11 draws closer, it is clear that the coming election will perhaps be the toughest poll in Oyo State’s modern history.