Category: Featured

The leadership of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) on Saturday began the screening of some aspirants for various positions in the National Working Committee (NWC), ahead of the March 26 National Convention.

A video released by the APC 2022 National Convention Screening Committee headed by Kastina State Governor, Rt. Hon. Aminu Bello Masari, reveals the screening exercise will be conducted in two batches on Saturday and Sunday.

Read Also: APC chairman: Al-Makura, Akume, Yari, Mustapha vow to fight on

According to the announcement in the video signed by the committee’s Secretary, Barr. Emmanuel Chukwuemeka Otagburuagu all aspirants for zonal offices appeared before the committee by 3 pm at NICCON Luxury Hotel, in Abuja.

While aspirants for the National Chairman and other National Working Committee positions are expected to be screened on Sunday at the same venue.

Screening Appeal Committee will on Monday attend to any petition that may arise from the screening.

Details shortly…

The Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi on Saturday unveiled the identity of his newly married wife.

Oba Akanbi confirmed the identity of the new queen to The Nation in a message.

Read Also: Oluwo of Iwo and his new bride

The Nation had reported the royal wedding between Oluwo and a princess from the Ado Bayero dynasty in Kano, Kano State, Princess Firdauz Abdullahi, will hold today.

It was stated that the wedding will be held at the residence of Madakin Kano, Yola Quarters, Kano on 19th of March, 2022 at 11 AM.

While reception strictly for ladies is scheduled to hold at the Palace of Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero dated at 4 PM.

Details shortly…

The country home of the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Prof George Obiozor, at Awo- Omanma in the Oru East Local Government Area of Imo state has been razed by yet to be identified gunmen.

The Nation gathered that the hoodlums who came in a convoy were spotted throwing explosives at the house on Saturday morning.

A source said “the country home of Prof George Obiozor was burnt last night. The CCTV cameras captured the attack. Thank God Prof was not at home when they came.”

Read Also: JUST IN: Gunmen set police division ablaze in Imo

When The Nation tried reaching Obiozor via telephone, he did not pick, but one of the leaders of Ohanaeze Ndigbo who pleaded anonymity confirmed the incident.

He called on the police to fish out those who carried out this arson.

The police spokesperson in the state, Michael Abattam, is yet to respond to an inquiry concerning the attack on Obiozor’s country home.

The attack on Obiozor’s country home happens same morning the Umuguma Divisional Police Headquarters in the Owerri West LGA of the state was burnt with two police constabularies reportedly killed and properties worth millions of Naira burnt.

Former Nigerian Ambassador to Spain and widow of the late Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, Bianca, has explained why she slapped the immediate past first lady, Ebele Obiano at the inauguration of the new Anambra State governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo in Awka, the state capital on Thursday.

The two women had engaged in a spat at the ceremony, momentarily disrupting proceedings at the event.

Reports from the event on Thursday had revealed how Ebele walked into the ceremony at about 10.55 am and moved towards the spot where her husband sat but was stopped by Bianca. Ebele, in reaction, appeared to nudge Bianca’s shoulder while the latter appeared to slap her, removing her headgear in the ensuing scuffle.

Setting the records straight yesterday, Bianca said she slapped Ebele in self defence after the latter attempted to remove her headgear in public.

She explained that she ignored several provocative verbal and physical assaults from the former first lady.

Bianca, a member of the Board of Trustees (BOT) of the All Progressives Grand Allaince (APGA), said: “As the inaugural ceremonies for Prof. Charles Soludo and his deputy began and all guests were seated, the Former First Lady of Anambra State, Mrs Ebele Obiano, was noticeably absent.

“She then arrived some one-and-a-half hours later while the ceremony was on. I didn’t pay any particular attention to her arrival.

“Surprisingly, she walked towards me and I thought she was coming to greet me. Instead, when she got to where I was seated, she verbally attacked me with her voice raised, taunting me and asking me what I was there to do and using unprintable vile language.

“She asked if I had come to celebrate their last day in office. But I ignored her completely. Then she kept aggressively putting her hands on my shoulders and shouting.

“While I ignored her verbal onslaught, as advised by those sitting around me, I requested twice that she refrained from touching me with her hands. She proceeded to do so yet again and went further to grab my headtie, which she attempted unsuccessfully to remove.

“This very act is considered a sacrilege to a titled matriarch such as myself in Igbo culture. It was at this point that I stood up to defend myself and gave her a dirty slap to stop her from attacking me.

“As she made towards me, I pulled away her wig. She held on to her wig with her two hands and tried to take the wig away from me.

“The former APGA chairman, Umeh (Chief Victor Umeh), told her to leave me and told APGA members that had gathered at the spot to lead her away, which they did and took her to the seat next to her husband, Chief Willie Obiano, who sat through the entire episode completely speechless.

“It is unfortunate that she threw all caution to the wind and imported this kind of melodrama to a state ceremony.

“This was highly embarrassing to the Governor who left the venue almost immediately, taking her along with him.

“Luckily, this did not disrupt the proceedings and I stayed back to witness the ceremony to the end after which we were treated to a sumptuous reception at the Government House.”

Monarch: Ebele must appease the gods, she desecrated Awka land

Reacting to the incident in a press statement, the Obi of Awka Ancient Kingdom, His Imperial Majesty, the Eze Uzu III of Awka, Obi Austin Ndigwe, said that Ebele committed a sacrilege by fighting the widow of the late Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu.

In the said statement, the monarch gave Ebele seven days to publicly apologise to the entire Igbo people or face serious consequences.

He said because the wife of the former governor committed a sacrilege by physically assaulting Ojukwu’s widow, he as the monarch of the town would have to appease the gods of Awka land to avoid calamities.

The monarch also said: “She should also tender an unreserved apology to the new governor of Anambra State, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, for her disgraceful conduct during his inauguration.

“The same should go for the chief judge of the state who was conducting the swearing-in when she descended.

“This grave sin was committed in the land of Awka which is known for peace and unity. Therefore, as the traditional ruler of the people and chief custodian of our culture, I am under obligation to perform some sacrifices to cleanse our land of this filth and pollution and to appease the gods.”

The monarch said he had spoken with Bianca after the incident and she told him that what angered her was that Mrs Obiano walked up to her and called her unprintable names and queried her presence at the swearing-in ceremony.

He said Ebele’s action was not only against Bianca but against the spirit of her late husband and founder of the APGA who Bianca came to represent.

Ndigwe said: “It must be pointed out that Bianca was not at that ceremony as Bianca, but as a direct representative of our late father and leader, Chief Odumegwu Ojukwu, her late husband who pioneered APGA.

“Therefore, Ebele’s action of casting aspersion on her is an affront on the entire Igbo people. It was indeed on Odumegwu Ojukwu and not on Bianca as a person.

“This is an insult to Igbo and it must not go unpunished.

“It is on record that I took Obiano and his wife, Ebele, to Bianca Ojukwu where they knelt down while seeking the party’s governorship ticket.

“Bianca endorsed Obiano and called on all APGA members including then Governor Peter Obi to support him.

“Mrs Ebele Obiano has only seven days to apologise as demanded and directed or face serious consequences.”

MASSOB describes fight as disgraceful to womanhood

The Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) yesterday described the face-off between Bianca and Ebele as a very unfortunate and disgraceful incident.

Reacting in a statement made available to newsmen in Owerri, MASSOB leader Comrade Uchenna Madu said the two women ought to be role models to others instead of engaging in such a shameful act.

He said the open confrontation was a disgrace to womanhood considering the respect commanded by the two women in the region.

“These two magnified, exalted and praise worshipped women are wrong. They couldn’t exercise restraints.

“Because of the deep hatred and cold war between them, they suddenly forgot what they represent in Anambra State and Igbo land in general.

“Every day is for the thief but one day is for the owner.

“When a sane person in nakedness pursues a mad person that collected his clothes in the street, the public view simply means that the two persons are mad people,” Madu said.”

By Sunny NWANKWO, Umuahia / Tony AKOWE/Eric IKHILAE, Abuja

POLITICAL appointees yesterday got the nod to vote as delegates or be voted for at their party’s convention or congress after a Federal High Court sitting in Umuahia, Abia State voided the controversial Section 84 (12) of the Electoral Act.

Justice Evelyn Anyadike ordered the Attorney General of the Federation to delete the section from the Electoral Act forthwith.

And the AGF and Justice Minister Abubakar Malami (SAN), who is one of the people believed to have been the targets of the Section, promised last night that the judgment would be promptly executed.

The ruling came 10 days after the Senate rejected a bill to amend the section as earlier requested by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The Red Chamber of the National Assembly said yesterday that it was yet to be served with details of the court case while the House of Representatives said the intention of the National Assembly in including the provision in the Act was aimed at giving all those who want to take part in the electoral process a level playing ground.

The contentious section stipulates that “No political appointee at any level shall be a voting delegate or be voted for at the convention or congress of any political party for the purpose of the nomination of candidates for any election.”

Justice Anyadike, ruling yesterday in a suit filed by a lawyer in Abia State, Nduka Edede, said the section ought to be struck down as it cannot stand when it is in violation of the clear provisions of the Constitution.

She said Sections 66(1)(f), 107(1)(f), 137(1)(f) and 182(1)(f) of the 1999 Constitution already stipulate that people employed in the public service of the federal or state government seeking to contest elections should resign at least 30 days to the date of the election.

The court said any other law requiring such appointees to resign or leave office at any time other than what the constitution stipulates is unconstitutional and invalid.

Counsel to the Plaintiff Emeka Ozoani (SAN) told reporters moments after the court ruling that the National Assembly was no longer required to amend the section as the import of the judgment is that Section 84(12) of the Electoral Act does not exist.

He said: “The court has just agreed with our submission that Section 84 (12) of the Electoral Act is inconsistent with the rights of Nigerian citizens when read with sections 66, 107, 137, and 182 of the Constitution and now nullified section 84(12) of the Electoral Act.

“The court has equally ordered the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, to delete section 84(12) of the Electoral Act forthwith.

“The implication of this is that it has provided a congenial atmosphere for politicking and political space for 2023 and it is a welcome development.

“Those who said that the National Assembly should go and amend Section 84(12) of the Electoral Act should know that you can’t amend illegality.

“An unconstitutional statue cannot be amended by same body.

“So, the proper order that the court has made represents the law and we commend the court as well.”

Also reacting, representative of the Attorney-General of the Federation, Chris Nevo, hoped that the National Assembly “will now go back and do the right thing since the court has made pronouncement on it and put to rest every other issue with regards to Section 84(12) of the Electoral Act.

“We can now move on with other national issues that are besieging us as a country and nation. Now that the court has ruled on the matter, it is for the National Assembly to delete and we move on.”

The plaintiff, Nduka Edede of Action Alliance, approached the court last week, praying it to strike out the section which he said was inconsistent with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution.

 

Malami promises prompt execution of judgment on Electoral Act

Justice Minister Abubakar Malami said last night that the judgment would be expeditiously executed.

Malami’s media aide, Dr. Umar Gwandu, in a statement said: “The office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice will accordingly give effect to the court judgment in line with the dictates of the law and the spirit of the judgment.

“The judgment of the court will be recognized by the Government printers in printing the Electoral Act.

“The Act will be gazetted factoring the effect of the judgment into consideration and deleting the constitutionally offensive provision accordingly.

“The provision of Section 84(12) of the Electoral Act 2022 is not part of our law and will be so treated accordingly.

“This is in line with the dictates of chapter 7, Part 4, Section 287 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) on enforcement of decisions that makes it a point of duty and obligation on all authorities and persons to have the judgment of the federal High Court, among others, to be enforced.”

Observers said yesterday that the judgment paves the way for the likes of Malami, Transportation Minister Rotimi Amaechi and other political appointees who want to seek elective offices next year.

 

Why Senate can’t react to court ruling now —Spokesman

Contacted yesterday to react to the court ruling, Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Ajibola Basiru, declined comments, saying he could not give an opinion based on media reports.

His words: “I’m not aware of the suit and whether the National Assembly was a party or was served and/or represented.

“I have also not seen or read the judgment or whether the National Assembly has been served with the judgment or any order of court.

“I cannot react to newspaper reports of court judgment without seeing the actual court judgment.”

 

Our intention on section 84(12) noble, says House of Reps

The House of Representatives said yesterday that its motive for introducing section 84(12) which requires political appointees to resign their position before participating in party convention and congresses as delegates to vote and be voted for was noble and aimed at creating a level playing ground for all Nigerians.

It however said it would await the certified true copy of the judgement of the Federal High Court on section 84(12) before making an informed comment on the judgment.

Spokesman of the House, Rep. Benjamin Kalu said the intention of the National Assembly in including the provision in the Act was aimed at giving all those who want to take part in the electoral process a level playing ground.

He said the section complained about has nothing to do with public servants referred to in the constitution but appointees of government at all levels, pointing out that while the constitution referred to civil servants, the Electoral Act deals with politicians and political appointees.

He said: “The judgment of the Federal High Court has raised a couple of issues. Let me say that the House of Representatives is not aware of this legal matter and is still not aware whether we were necessary party to this matter or not.

“It is important to note that it is out of place to comment on a judgement we are yet to see the certified true copy. So, we will make comment on this judgment once we receive the certified true copy of the judgment to know the length and breadth of the judgment.

“We have read from the media that the judgment borders on section 84(12) of the Electoral Act amendment  bill which Mr. President signed into law recently and for which Mr. President has communicated the National Assembly, i.e. the Senate and the House of Representatives.

“As you are aware, the Senate has treated the letter by voting on a motion moved on it while the House of Representatives is still waiting for legal opinion from the legal department that is currently looking at the issues raised by Mr. President in that letter before debating it. That was before we heard of this letter.

“When we get the CTC, we will like to know who represented us, who served us and all those technicalities. It is important to let Nigerians know the mindset of the legislature, the intention of the legislature while drafting section 84(12) bothers on our intention to have an excellent electoral reform.

“As you know, for electoral reform to be effective, it has to be transparent, it has to be accountable, it has to be as inclusive as possible, it has to be as competitive as possible and it has to be fair for it to be credible.  If any of these ingredients is missing at any point towards achieving credible election, it will affect the whole picture.

“That is why we wanted to address the conduct of appointed officers who are appointees of political office holders, who are used as tools during conventions and congresses and being part of the body that determine who becomes a candidate in the general election or who will not be a candidate in the general election.

“It is important that how that process is conducted is considered to enable us have a credible process that will be above board.

“We wanted to give a level playing ground for those who have been in government and are not supposed to use the undue advantage of being in government while running for office, especially in political party administration so that they will be at par with those who are not occupying any office so that they will be at par to run for office.

“It has nothing to do with public servants. I say this because I heard that many have argued that it offends the provisions of the constitution with regards to section 66, and a couple of other provisions that border on how to be qualified or to be disqualified for an election, especially the section that talks about 30 days withdrawal before election.

“That is for public servants. We are talking about political appointees. Section 318 defines who a public servant is, and that does not include political appointees. The ability to distinguish between these two will help us understand what the electoral act is trying to do as against what is being roped in as trying to do at the moment and that it is offensive to the constitution.

“When we get that judgement, we will know whether that differentiation was clear or was not clear. Who is the public servant that is referred to in the various provisions that was relied on in taking this decision? Who are the political appointees referred to?

“The Electoral Act addressed political appointees while the constitution addresses public servants. We have to get the judgement to know if this was clearly demarcated or not. That will help us understand the position from where the judgement was given and the next step to take.”

Only last week, the Senate, in a voice vote, rejected a bill seeking to expunge the section from the Act.

The bill was in response to a request by President Buhari who, while signing the bill into law on February 25, had complained that the clause was a fundamental defect as it was in conflict with extant constitutional provisions.

According to him, section 84 (12) constitutes a disenfranchisement of serving political office holders from voting or being voted for at conventions or congresses of any political party.

This, he said, was for the purpose of the nomination of candidates for any election in cases where it holds earlier than 30 days to the national election.

He argued that the provision introduced qualification and disqualification criteria that ultra vires the Constitution by way of importing blanket restriction and disqualification.

This, he said, was basically for serving political office holders of which they were constitutionally accorded protection.

He said in a follow up letter to the National Assembly that “it is imperative to note that the only constitutional expectation placed on serving political office holders that qualify by extension as public officers within the context of the constitution is resignation.

Others, he said, were withdrawal or retirement at least 30 days before the date of the election.

“Hence, it will be stretching things beyond the constitutional limit to import extraneous restriction into the constitution on account of practical application of section 84(12) of the bill,” he said.

Following the rejection of the amendment bill, the Attorney General of the Federation and Justice Minister Abubakar Malami (SAN) had said the Federal Government would consider all other options available to it before taking a position.

In rejecting the bill, the Senate relied on Rule 52(5) of the Senate Standing Order which provides thus: “Reference shall not be made to any matter on which a judicial decision is pending, in such a way as might in the opinion of the President of the Senate prejudice the interest of parties thereto.”

Senator Adamu Aliero (Kebbi Central) asked the Red Chamber to step down consideration of the bill pending the vacation of an order made by the Federal High Court, Abuja.

Five of the aspirants for the national chairmanship of the All Progressives Congress (APC) may have dropped out of the race, leaving the field for a tight contest by seven top members of the party.

Only the seven met yesterday’s deadline for submission of their nomination forms.

Former Deputy Governor of Osun State, Otunba Iyiola Omisore yesterday submitted his nomination form to contest for national secretary of the party.

Preparations for next weekend’s convention from which a new national executive committee of the party will emerge moved into a higher gear yesterday after a high court in Abuja vacated an order stopping the national convention.

Justice Bello Kawu ruled that a political party could not be sued by a member.

But the bad blood generated by the recent moves against the Chairman of the party’s Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC), Mai Mala Buni, and the Secretary, John Akpanudoedehe, appears not to be over yet.

Akpanudoedehe declared that he remained CECPC Secretary regardless of the vote of no confidence said to have been passed on him on Thursday by a majority of the committee members.

Chairmanship aspirants who beat the deadline for the submission of nomination forms yesterday were the pioneer Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Senator  Abdullahi Adamu; ex-Governor Umar Tanko Al-Makura; Mallam Saliu Mustapha (Turaki Ilorin); Senator  Sani Mohammed Musa;  ex-Governor George Akume;  another former Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum, Abdulaziz Yari; and  the youngest,  Mohammed Etsu.

Only Yari is from the North-West. The rest are mostly from the North-Central.

Those that are out of the race include a former Chief Whip of the House of Representatives, Hon. Bawa Bwari; ex-Governor Ali Modu Sheriff; ex-Governor Isa Yuguda; Dr. Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi and Sunny Sylvester Monidafe.

While some of the aspirants jettisoned their ambition in deference to the APC zoning formula in favour of the North-Central for chairmanship, others appeared to have lost steam midway.

A reliable party source said: “All the aspirants are jostling to earn the confidence and endorsement of President Muhammadu Buhari. What has buoyed their confidence is the discordant tunes from London.

“They believe it is still an open race based on the extent of influence they have wielded through their godfathers, allies and associates. One of the aspirants was even in London for almost a week but he could not see the President.

“In spite of the speculations on Buhari’s alleged mindset on Adamu, it is still difficult to predict the direction he is heading to.

“He has met with his strategists in London and a clear direction he is disposed to is consensus. But we are unclear about who is the consensus aspirant.

“The Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) Caucus of APC is adamant on producing the National Chairman of the party from among its two nominees, Saliu Mustapha and ex-Governor Umar Tanko Al-Makura.”

Responding to a question, the source added: “Most of the governors have lost steam on the choice of a new national chairman for APC.

“The crisis in their ranks on the fate of the Chairman of the Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee, Governor Mai Mala Buni, has made them to tread softly in advising the President.

“A governor, who was in London to have an audience with Buhari was devastated to read the President’s letter to the Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, Senator Atiku Bagudu.

“He could not understand the dynamics of presidential power play.”

APC under my leadership won’t beg anyone for money – Musa

One of the chairmanship aspirants left in the race, Senator Mohammed Sani Musa, said yesterday that if he won the election, the party, under him, would not beg anyone for money to run its affairs.

He said that the APC with a membership strength of 43 million should have no problem raising funds.

He spoke at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja after submitting his nomination and expression of interest forms.

Musa, who currently represents Niger East in the Senate, said he was looking forward to the convention which he said would usher in a new beginning and transitional change in the APC.

He said the party required a leadership that would “bring direction and build consensus between all dividing organs.”

He said: “The executive governors are there to support the party and the party is there to work with the governors.

“We want to see a party that will become an institution in Africa.

“APC is the largest party and all we need to do is to put the structure in place. That is, the political parties need to be very strong.

“We have a democracy in this country that has a very strong foundation, but what we are lacking is the leadership that will be able to transform our party structure to what it should be: a platform to groom leaders. That is what I’m bringing new to APC.

“And APC will not be dependent on anybody to fund it. With 43 million members, we have no business going cap in hand to beg anybody for money. That is what I’m bringing to APC.”

On the purported endorsement of Senator Abdullahi Adamu by President Muhammadu Buhari, Musa wondered  why the party sold forms to other people if it had someone already lined up for the job.

“You sold forms to us. And as far as I’m concerned, there’s never been anybody that officially contacted me or any other aspirants. Nobody!  And the spokesperson to Mr. President, Femi Adesina, had said that there was no endorsement,” he said.

“The endorsement I want is your endorsement. I want the endorsement of 43 million APC members. That is what I need.

I’ll ensure party

supremacy — Mustapha

Another aspirant, Malam Saliu Mustapha, vowed to ensure party supremacy, inclusiveness and discipline if elected as chairman of the APC.

He promised to promote a policy of mentorship where youth and women would  be given deputy leader positions at the various committee levels of the party to give them the much-needed training that will prepare them for leadership positions in the country.

On his plan to fund the party, Mustapha said his leadership would leverage on the over 40 million membership strength of the party by introducing a membership levy on every card-carrying member.

Al-Makura has better credentials to lead APC than five other contestants -Group

Arewa Youths in the South South and South East said former Nasarawa State Governor, Senator Umar Tanko Al-Makura, is better positioned than anyone else to lead the APC.

Spokesman for the group, Arewa Youths South South and South East, Alhaji Anas Yero, described Al-Makura as the best candidate that can unite the party and lead it to victory in 2023.

“We must know that the emergence of a weak leader might affect the party in 2023,” he said.

He added: “In terms of competence, Al-Makura is unquantifiable due to his political track records.

“His candidature has no match. Hence he is widely accepted across all the six geo-political regions in the country.”

The group maintained that since the formation of the APC, all the legacy political parties that came together had produced the national chairman, noting that this is the time for CPC to also enjoy the seat, and the most suitable person is Senator Al-Makura.

Akpanudoedehe: I

remain APC National Secretary

The APC Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC)  National Secretary, Dr. John Akpanudoedehe, said yesterday that he remained in office despite the Thursday move by a majority members of the committee to remove him.

Akpanudoedehe, emerging from a meeting with the CECPC chairman Mai Mala Buni in Abuja, said: “Our Chairman (Buni) cannot go against the instruction of the President.

“In his last letter, the President has given the directive that the status quo ante should remain. The Chairman is a very brilliant man. He respects the President and will not go against that.

“I am the National Secretary of APC and the constitution is very clear on that. The INEC has said for you to sack any of us, you need 21-day notice.

“I should be celebrated for standing with the Chairman. We should celebrate loyalty, integrity. Why would I be punished for standing with the chairman? It is a virtue.

“So, nothing has changed in APC. I remain the National Secretary and reconciliation efforts are ongoing. It is one party.”

APC youths protest ‘sack’ of Akpanudoedehe as CECPC scribe

A youth group in the APC known as Progressives Youth Movement (PYM) yesterday kicked over the Thursday vote of no confidence passed on Akpanudoedehe by a majority of the members of the CECPC.

The group, at a press briefing in Abuja, cautioned party leaders not to bring up issues that are capable of  causing confusion again before the national convention of the party.

National Coordinator of the group, Prince Mustapha Audu, described the purported sack of the APC scribe as void and a nullity, explaining that the party currently needs unity.

He added: “We have a legal way of removing anybody from a committee, and I think only the NEC has the authority to do that.

“I don’t believe a committee that was set up has the authority to sack a member of that committee that was set up by NEC, especially a member who is superior in position.

“I think that is absolutely impossible but we would leave that for the legal team to look into that.”

 

Omisore jostles for secretary  

A former deputy governor of Osun State, Senator Iyiola Omisore, yesterday emerged a surprise candidate for the position of the party’s national secretary.

He submitted his nomination form for the office at the APC National Secretariat.

Omisore, in a statement, said he looked forward to an “efficient and effective management of the national secretariat for next level prosperity, democracy deliverables for Nigeria and Nigerians in utmost of peace, happiness, safety and plenty.”

He promised to “institutionalise civility by leveraging on technology for efficient party administration and create a people-driven political party that will deepen democratic norms across the board in administration and in capacity building not only to win election but to be bonded as an institution whereby everyone will be recognised and respected for their many roles in aiding growth and development of the party from the grassroots.”

Omisore appealed to APC members in Nigeria to support his ambition for the party by voting for him.

 

Court vacates order stopping APC convention  

An Abuja high court yesterday gave the APC the green light to proceed with its national convention scheduled for March 26, 2022 in Abuja.

Justice Bello Kawu vacated the November 18, 2021 order he granted, suspending the convention indefinitely.

An APC member, Salisu Umoru, had in suit marked FHC/HC/CV/2958/2021, challenged the planned convention.

The now vacated order had threatened the holding of the convention.

Kawu said yesterday that the plaintiff lacked the locus to sustain the restraining order.

According to him, the November interim injunction had been overtaken by a recent ruling of the Supreme Court on a similar matter.

He adjourned hearing in the substantive suit to March 30.

Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai had accused Buni and Akpanudoedehe of knowing about the interim injunction but did nothing to get it vacated.

 

Ex-PGF boss warns against implosion, uncovers alleged imposition plot by CPC bloc

The immediate-past Director-General of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) Salihu Lukman, yesterday alleged a plot to impose leaders from the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) on APC at the March 26 National Convention of the party.

Lukman in a statement titled “Consensus Vs Open Contest in APC” in Abuja yesterday said political associates in the defunct CPC should refrain from acts capable of undermining the authority of the President as the leader of the party.

“It was the liberal disposition of the President that allows him to respect positions of party leaders, based on which he subscribes to decisions and delegate implementation to competent structures of the party.

“If the President can respect other party leaders, why should other associates of the President exude any form of disrespect or contempt for other party leaders in whatever way?

“One of the mistakes of the so-called old CPC members, including the ‘CPC London lobbyists’, is to elevate the respect of party leaders for the President to the level of compelling obedience without recognising that it is mutually reciprocal respect.

“Unlike what obtained under the CPC, whereby President Buhari was largely the singular electoral asset of the party, in the case of the APC, President Buhari, although the dominant electoral asset, other party leaders are also electoral assets in varying degrees, which was the added factor responsible for the electoral victory of 2015 and 2019.

“These are old opportunistic arguments, which were self-serving, used by some few vested interests around the President to impose themselves as party leaders and candidates.

“Many instances were leading to the imposition of candidates during elections, which undermined the electoral viabilities of parties associated with the President. From the ANPP in 2003 and 2007 to CPC in 2011, this has been the reality.

“Often, individual politicians with these self-serving agendas have used it to impose themselves on party members as candidates for elections.

“Although there are many instances whereby imposed candidates win elections, there are also many instances when acts of imposition destroyed the electoral advantages of the parties leading to the loss of elections.

“This was partly the reason for the large-scale defeat of the CPC in the 2011 election in Kano, Kaduna, Bauchi, Katsina and many states.

 

A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) sitting in Kubwa, Abuja, on Friday, vacated the order of interim injunction that stopped the All Progressive Congress (APC) from holding its National Convention planned for March 26, 2022.

The interim order had followed a suit by an aggrieved member of the party, Salisu Umoru.

The judge, Justice Bello Kawu, vacated the injunction following an application by APC.

Granting APC’s application on Friday, Justice Kawu, held that plaintiff lacked the locus to sustain the restraining order.

The court held that the order of injunction issued against the APC on November 18, 2021, has been overtaken by a recent judgment the Supreme Court delivered on a similar matter.

READ ALSO: Long walk to APC national convention

Justice Kawu however adjourned the plaintiff’s substantive suit till March 30 for hearing.

Umoru had among other things, prayed the court to direct the APC and its Chairman Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee, Governor Mai Mala Buni, to halt further action on the planned convention, pending the resolution of legal cases involving the party.

He had also sought an order directing Buni to begin the reconciliation process to resolve all the disputes that emanated from the local government congresses that were conducted by the party.

Wife of late Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, Bianca, has explained why she slapped immediate past Anambra First Lady, Ebele Obiano on Thursday afternoon in Awka, the Anambra State capital.

The two women had engaged in a public fight at the inauguration ceremony of Governor Charles Soludo, an incident that momentarily disrupted the swearing-in ceremony.

Setting the records straight on Friday, Mrs. Ojukwu said she slapped Ebele Obiano to defend herself after the wife of the former Governor attempted to remove her headgear in public.

The former Ambassador to Spain explained that she ignored several provocative verbal and physical assaults from the former first lady who she alleged was intoxicated by alcohol.

Mrs Ojukwu, who’s also a member of Board of Trustees (BOT), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) wrote: “As the inaugural ceremonies for Prof Charles Soludo and his deputy began and all guests were seated, the Former First Lady of Anambra State, Mrs Ebele Obiano, was noticeably absent. She then arrived some one-and-a-half hours later while the ceremony was on. I didn’t pay any particular attention to her arrival.

“Surprisingly, she then walked towards me and I thought she was coming to greet me. Instead, when she got to where I was seated, she verbally attacked me with her voice raised, taunting me and asking me what I was there to do and using unprintable vile language.

“She asked if I had come to celebrate their last day in office. But I ignored her completely. Then, she kept aggressively putting her hands on my shoulders and shouting. While I ignored her verbal onslaught, as advised by those sitting around me, I requested twice that she refrained from touching me with her hands.

READ ALSO: Bianca/Ebele faceoff disgraceful to womanhood – MASSOB

“She proceeded to do so yet again and went further to grab at my headtie, which she attempted unsuccessfully to remove. This very act is considered a sacrilege to a titled matriarch such as myself in Igbo culture.

“It was at this point that I stood up to defend myself and gave her a dirty slap to stop her from attacking me. As she made towards me, I then pulled away her wig. She held on to her wig with her two hands and tried to take the wig away from me.

“The former APGA chairman, Umeh (Chief Victor Umeh), told her to leave me and told engaged APGA members that had gathered at the spot to lead her away, which they did and took her to the seat next to her husband Chief Willie Obiano who sat through the entire episode completely speechless.

“What struck me through the whole episode was the fact that she was clearly intoxicated. I was stunned by the stench of whisky in her breath at such an early hour of the day. How could a first lady be so drunk and proceeded to turn up in that state at an Inauguration ceremony that began at 9 am?

“It is unfortunate that she threw all caution to the wind and imported this kind of melodrama to a state ceremony. This was highly embarrassing to the Governor who left the venue almost immediately, taking her along with him.

“Luckily, this did not disrupt the proceedings and I stayed back to witness the ceremony to the end after which we were treated to a sumptuous reception at the Government House.”

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has relocated ex- Anambra Governor Willy Obiano from Lagos to Abuja for grilling.

But the details of the allegations against him have not been released by the anti-graft commission.

It was learnt that Obiano was moved to Abuja because the desk handling his case in the last two years is at the EFCC’s headquarters.

READ ALSO: VIDEO: Obiano’s wife, Bianca Ojukwu in free-for-all at Soludo’s inauguration

The Head of Media and Publicity of EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, said: “Yes, the ex-governor is now with our team in Abuja.

” It is too early to talk about ongoing investigation.”

Details Shortly…

To douse simmering tension in the All Progressives Congress (APC), Caretaker Chairman Mai Mala Buni met with five governors yesterday on his return from Dubai where he went for medical checkup and in London where he met with President Muhammadu Buhari.

The Yobe State governor  also met with Niger State Governor Abubakar Sani Bello and members of the Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC). Governor Bello acted for him while he was away.

Buni, also declared all the activities of the acting chairman as valid and binding on the party.

He has also initiated rapprochement with all the governors who worked against him while on medical trip.

There were indications that Buni and the governors may collectively review the convention committees and agree on a harmonised list.

According to a source, Buni returned to Abuja at about 4am yesterday.

The source said: “In line with the script given to him by the President, Buni was already reaching out to other colleague governors on how to keep APC united to make the March 26 convention a reality.

“Early in the day, he had a meeting with some governors, including Babagana Zulum (Borno); Yahaya Bello (Kogi); Gboyega Oyetola (Osun); Hope Uzodimma (Imo); Yahaya Bello (Kogi) and Dapo Abiodun (Ogun).

“At about 5pm, he held another meeting with the acting chairman and members of the CECPC where he told them that he had no malice against anyone.

“In the next few hours, he will have audience with those who moved against him. His objective is to hand over to a democratically elected national chairman.

“Buni’s camp has won the leadership tussle, but wants to be mature in handling things by now carrying everyone along.

“You know he (Bello) inaugurated state chairmen, which Buni was supposed to do before he travelled. If you say everything done in the absence of the substantive chairman has been thrown away, that, too, will be thrown away.

“So, it is a way of dousing tension.

“The Secretary of CECPC, Sen. John Akpanudoedohe is on ground, no one has removed him.”

The source added: “Buni and his colleagues will sit down and review the list of convention committees, which has polarised the party.”

In a statement he personally signed: “This is to bring to the notice of all stakeholders and members of the party that the purported suspension of some activities initiated and executed by the Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee under the acting chairman and Niger State Governor, Abubakar Sani Bello is not true.

“Therefore, all activities that were done in my absence remain valid and binding. All party stakeholders and members are hereby advised to disregard the previous statement discarding the activities of the committee under the leadership of the Acting Chairman.

“It could be recalled that I had duly transmitted power to His Excellency, the Niger State Governor, Abubakar Sani Bello to enable me undergo medical attention.

“Therefore, all actions and measures taken by the committee under his leadership as acting chairman remain effective.

“The party calls for support and understanding to move the Party forward to a successful convention slated for March 26th, 2022.”

 

Buni, Bello after meeting: we are on course

All Progressive Congress Caretaker Chairman Mai Mala Buni and erstwhile acting chairman Abubakar Sani-Bello declared yesterday after a meeting that the party is on course to hold its March 26 convention.

They spoke to reporters after the meeting in Abuja.

Buni commended his Niger State counterpart who stood in while he was away for effectively managing the affairs of the party.

According to Buni, “You know that since I travelled the party has not stopped. His Excellency (Gov. Sani Bello) has done very well in managing the affairs of the party.

“We are here to discuss the issues going forward. We are now at the finishing line in the preparations for our national convention which is at hand on March 26. We are putting heads together to achieve this task ahead.

“I want to emphasis that the March 26 national convention is sacrosanct.”

On Akpanudoedehe’s absence at the meeting,  Buni said: “You know that this is not a formal meeting of the committee. These members of the CECPC just came to welcome me back to the country and wish me well after returning from a medical trip outside the country. So, it is not a formal meeting that one will ask whether the secretary is here or not. However, he was in the house earlier today.”

Recounting his stewardship while he acted, Gov. Abubakar Sani Bello said, “I have been acting as the chairman of CECPC and what I can tell you is that we made lots of progress towards our convention like we saw in the inauguration of the State Chairmen, adopted some of the zoning formulae, and some of the decisions of the CECPC taken before he (Buni) left the country. I can tell you for free that in the last one week, we have ensured that we are good to go for the convention.”