The Nation Newspaper

Tag: 2015 elections

  • 2015 elections may be postponed if….- Elechi

    2015 elections may be postponed if….- Elechi

    Ebonyi State Governor, Martin Elechi, on Tuesday said there is a possibility that the 2015 elections will be postponed if the present insecurity in the country continues.

    He stated this in Abakaliki, the state capital, during a media chat, as part of activities marking the country’s 54th independence anniversary and 18th anniversary of the state’s creation.

    Elechi, who was responding to a question on his successor, said the people of Ebonyi State will decide who succeeds him in 2015.

    He said, “I don’t know why we are so unsettled about this matter, the time table is out and actors are going to make themselves available. You create the impression that I will singlehandedly say that this is my successor.

    “It has to come by way of consensus and by election. So please, do not over heat the polity. What is important now is that we face our projects and programmes.

    “What if the elections don’t come? You should pray more that we overcome the destabilizing factors that are shaking the entire nation with probability. I’m not saying that they will succeed, but with probability of stalling all elections.

    “If the nation is at war and this is a constitutional provision, such that elections can’t be held, elections will be postponed.

    “We should be more concerned with ensuring peace and tranquility in the country rather than who succeeds who.

    “If I am alive till May 29, 2015, I will hand over to somebody.”

  • Oshiomhole to Jonathan: Ikimi cannot win Edo for you

    Oshiomhole to Jonathan: Ikimi cannot win Edo for you

    Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, has said that it was a tall dream for President Goodluck Jonathan to think that the defection of Chief Tom Ikimi from the All Progressives Congress to the Peoples Democratic Party would sway victory for PDP in the state.

    Oshiomhole, who was reacting to a boast by President Jonathan that the PDP would recapture Edo State in 2015 and 2016, said it was unfortunate that the President was being deceived by PDP leaders in the state.

    The Governor, who spoke through his Political Adviser, Hon Charles Idahosa, said the President should have checked how many persons defected alongside Ikimi to the PDP.

    He noted that the Binis which constitutes over 50 per cent of Edo population have been marginalized by the PDP-led federal government, adding it was a tall dream for President Jonathan to think that Esan godfathers would win Edo for him.

    “Ikimi said he left APC because after cooking the food, people came and stole both the pot and the food away. But in this case, he forgot that it was Ize-Iyamu who cooked the food that those that left the APC for PDP took along.  Ikimi went to the stadium to hijack the show by introducing Ize-Iyamu instead of Ize-Iyamu introducing him to the President.

    “Ize-Iyamu, who did all the cooking, was now a spectator. Dr.  Samuel Ogbemudia was never mentioned there, former Governor Lucky Igbinedion was seated there, his father Esama was seated and none of them were asked to speak, yet President Jonathan is boasting that PDP will win Edo. That is laughable.

    “We will deal with them in February. As we speak today there is no single Bini man or woman who is a minister, Permanent Secretary, CEO, so what is the PDP going to tell Bini people that will make the Binis vote for PDP? And the days of rigging are over. We are going to deal with them. Every appointment is in Esan and Uromi in particular. It is a wild dream to say they will win Edo.”

     

  • Claims on Jonathan’s 2015 bid outright lies – Clark

    Claims on Jonathan’s 2015 bid outright lies – Clark

    The prominent Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark, on Thursday faulted one Umaru Ardo’s statement on President Goodluck Jonathan re-election bid, saying the President cannot be stopped from vying for re-election next year.

    Clark noted that the local and international cases cited by Ardo were not only half facts and make beliefs but outright lies.

    Ardo had approached the court to stop President Jonathan from contesting in the 2015 presidential election.

    But the former federal commissioner for information, who is a strong backer of the President, has insisted that there was no ground to stop him (Jonathan) from seeking re-election next year.

    Clark in his open letter to the Peoples Democratic Party National Chairman, Adamu Muazu ,said,  “After reading Umar Ardo’s open letter to you, on why he thinks President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, must not seek re-election for a second term in the 2015 presidential election, two very pertinent ideas came to my mind.  Firstly, let the writer be ignored, while Nigerians wait to see him in a court of law to canvas his argument to impede President Jonathan’s re-election bid in 2015.

    “Secondly, X-ray his half facts, make beliefs and outright lies to the public and those who might be gullible enough to be hoodwinked by the devil’s advocate.  The need to unveil the truth behind his half facts and as well provide details for the many cases and instances he cited, both local and international, especially the United States of America, to buttress his argument and may be incite the public against Mr. President.

    “In his passionate attempt to convince readers in his argument, the writer muddled up issues by mentioning cases of several governors that had constitutional issues with their tenure, I mean issues brought about through impeachments, courts and election petition tribunal’s decisions.  The point he canvassed citing the governors’ cases is a complete digression and bears no semblance or correlation with President Jonathan serving the unexpired tenure of the late Alhaji Umaru Yar’Adua.

    “He mentioned Rashid Ladoja, Rotimi Amaechi, Peter Obi, Boni Haruna and a host of others.  What these governor cases have to do with the argument he puts forward beats the imagination.

    “In conclusion, the PDP National Chairman, PDP Board of Trustees, the NWC, PDP Governors’ Forum, Stakeholders and the general public should discountenance Umar Ardo’s letter that was widely publicized in almost every major national newspapers.  The letter is ill motivated and sponsored by PDP detractors, who mean harm and would stop at nothing to heat up the polity unnecessarily and in fact even derail our growing democracy.”

  • 2015 elections will meet global best practices – Jonathan

    2015 elections will meet global best practices – Jonathan

    President Goodluck Jonathan has assured the international community that next year’s general election in Nigeria will be conducted in accordance with global best practices.

    He gave the assurance at separate meetings with the United Nations Secretary-General, Mr. Ban ki -Moon and the British Prime Minister, Mr. David Cameron, before leaving New York late Wednesday night.

    A statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, said that President Jonathan reaffirmed his personal commitment to making elections in Nigeria progressively better, freer and more credible.

    In keeping with his administration’s dedication to openness and transparency in the conduct of public affairs, the President said that international observers will be allowed to freely monitor the 2015 elections in order to affirm that the elections are as free, fair and credible as promised by his administration.

    He thanked the UN chief and Mr. Cameron for their continuing support for Nigeria’s effort to curb terrorism, insurgency and violent extremism within its borders, saying the Federal Government will welcome even more assistance from Britain especially in the areas of intelligence sharing, anti- terrorism training and defence logistics.

    At a later meeting with the Director-General of the World Health Organisation (WHO), Dr. Margaret Chan, President Jonathan expressed Nigeria’s appreciation of the support it received from WHO for the successful containment of the Ebola Virus Disease in the country.

    Affirming that Nigeria was now Ebola-free, he called for greater international support to ensure that the virus is also eradicated from other West Africa countries presently battling with it.

    He said: “Nigeria is free of the virus now, but we know that to be permanently free from it, we must remain vigilant and work with WHO and the international community to eradicate it completely from our sub-region and forestall the possibility of its re-emergence on our shores through migration.”

    President Jonathan also assured her that despite hindrances by insurgents, terrorists and violent extremists, the government is fully committed to eradicating polio from Nigeria in the shortest possible time.

  • 2015 elections will not deplete Nigeria’s reserves – Emefiele

    2015 elections will not deplete Nigeria’s reserves – Emefiele

    The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, has said that the 2015 general election would not deplete the country’s reserves.

    Emefiele gave the assurance on Wednesday in New York, United States, at the Africa Business Summit, a high level international forum on Africa’s investment climate and market with the theme: “Africa is Rising, There Are Challenges, Still We Rise.’’

    He said the nation’s economy was currently doing well and the 2015 elections would not let it take a downturn.

    He further said that Nigeria currently had a reserve of about 41 billion dollars, “which is the highest in Africa.’’

    The CBN governor said though people were predicting a drop in crude prices and revenues, with 41 billion dollars reserve supporting imports and production for the next seven to eight months, “Nigeria’s economy is doing very well and 2015 will not be different.

    “People are generally expecting crude prices to drop and maybe there will be reduction in production and crude prices will fall,” the News Agency of Nigeria quoted the CBN chief as saying at the summit.

    He allayed the fears of investors in the stability of the economy, stressing that the country’s Gross Domestic Product was consistently moving up.

    Emefiele said “Nigeria’s foreign exchange reserves fell by 18 per cent year-on-year, although it climbed by 3.8 per cent in July to 38.49 billion dollars.

    “Investors became nervous after the suspension of former Central Bank Governor, Lamido Sanusi, in February, and ahead of presidential election in February 2015 but I assure you we are in a comfortable position.’’

    The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Olusegun Aganga, who spoke at the event, said the summit, which was a Private- Public Partnership, was meant to educate and attract investors.

    “This platform provides a level of advocacy for Nigeria’s economic image,’’ he added.

  • PDP NEC adopts Jonathan for 2015 election

    PDP NEC adopts Jonathan for 2015 election

    ... We will end terrorism by mid-October – President

    The National Executive Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party has unanimously adopted President Goodluck Jonathan as the party’s sole candidate for the 2015 presidential election.

    The decision, which was taken at the party’s NEC meeting in Abuja on Thursday, is expected to be ratified at the party’s national convention billed to hold on December 6.

    The NEC is the highest decision making organ of the party.

    Niger State Governor, Babangida Aliyu, set the ball rolling when he announced that governors elected on the platform of the party had decided to adopt Jonathan as the party’s sole candidate for the election.

    Aliyu said the governors unanimously took the decision without reservation, adding that the decision was informed by the need for the party to go into the 2015 elections with a united front.

    Aliyu created a mild drama when he beckoned on the Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido, to attest to and identify with the governors’ position.

    Lamido, with a broad smile, got up from his seat, nodded in agreement and gave Jonathan a thump up.

    Until Thursday, Lamido’s had been the lone voice within the PDP challenging the President’s re-election bid. Judging by his disposition at the meeting, he appeared to have caved in.

    The Vice chairman of the party’s Board of Trustees, Alhaji Shuabu Oyedokun, who stood in for the chairman, spoke on behalf of the trustees.

    According to him, the BoT decided to adopt the President for the stability of the party.

    President of the Senate, David Mark, who also conveyed the endorsement of the National Assembly caucus of the party, said the legislature preaches and believes in continuity.

    Mark informed the gathering that the lawmakers had met and taken a decision on the matter days before.

    “It’s a legacy we have decided to lay for the party. He is a sitting and performing President; we should allow him to go ahead. We unanimously adopt him as our sole presidential candidate for the 2015 election.

    Mrs. Justina Eze spoke in similar vein on behalf of the party’s women folk, saying the women had also taken the decision in the interest of the party.

    Thereafter, a former Acting National chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Haliru Bello Mohammed, moved the motion for the adoption.

    He said there was no reason to change a winning formula, adding that the President had performed well enough to deserve a second term.

    Former governor of the old Anambra State, Chief Jim Nwobodo, who seconded the motion, also said the Jonathan team had done well and deserved a second term. The motion received an overwhelming affirmative voice vote.

    Responding, Jonathan expressed appreciation for the adoption, saying he was overwhelmed by the show of support and encouragement by the party members.

    “I am so overwhelmed that I lack the words to express my appreciation. For you to have that confidence in me, I will not disappoint you.”

    The President there and then gave the assurance that terrorism that is currently ravaging the country, which he described as secession plot, would be brought to an end by mid October.

    “Things must change by the middle of October. We will bring terrorism to an end no matter what it takes,” he said emphatically.

    He however gave no reasons for the optimism.

     

  • 2015: Jonathan, PDP caucus meet on party guidelines

    2015: Jonathan, PDP caucus meet on party guidelines

    President Goodluck Jonathan and members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Caucus on Tuesday night met on amendments to be made to the party’s guidelines before the 2015 general election.

    The new guidelines would be approved at the National Executive Committee meeting slated for Thursday at the party’s National Headquarters in Abuja.

    Briefing State House correspondents at the end of the Caucus meeting which ended few minutes to midnight on Tuesday, Delta State Governor, Emmanuel Uduaghan, said the party’s election guidelines towards 2015 general election dominated discussions at the meeting.

    He said: “Most of the discussions were centred on the 2015 elections, that is, preparations of the party for the 2015 elections. There were presentations by the National Working Committee. You know we will have our National Executive Committee meeting on Thursday, and the guidelines for the party were discussed.”

    “But most of the decisions will be taken at the NEC meeting on Thursday.”

    “What we did here was to brainstorm on certain issues that will be presented at the NEC meeting. So, it is on that Thursday that a several decisions that will guide us for the 2015 elections will be taken.”

    In the same vein, Abia State Governor, Theodore Orji, said the PDP election guidelines would be tabled before the NEC meeting on Thursday.

    On the Caucus meeting, he said: “To take critically look at the guidelines of the party and make amendments that will be passed to NEC next tomorrow.”

    Among those present at the Caucus meeting that started at 8.37pm on Tuesday are – Vice President Namadi Sambo; the President of the Senate, Sen. David Mark, and the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha.

    Others are – the Leader of the Senate, Victor Ndoma-Egba; the Deputy Senate Leader, Abdul Ningi; the PDP Chairman, Adamu Muazu; the Deputy National Chairman, Uche Secondus, and a former PDP Chairman, Ahmadu Ali.

    The Secretary of the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT), Walid Jibril; the Special Adviser to the President on Political Affairs, Prof. Rufai Alkali; the PDP National Women Leader, Kema Chikwe; the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, and the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Mohammed Adoke, also attended the meeting.

    Governors at the meeting are –  Gabriel Suswam (Benue), Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta), Jonah Jang (Plateau), Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom) and Theodore Orji (Abia).

    The BoT meeting of the party is expected to hold at the State House, Abuja, on Wednesday night.

  • 2015: North opts for ‘united front’

    The Arewa Consultative Forum rose from its meeting with Northern groups and associations on Monday with a resolve to form a united front for the region ahead of the 2015 general election.

    The northern stakeholders also lamented that past Nigerian Presidents of northern extraction seriously under-utilized the region assets and urged them to improve their inputs into the security and economic wellbeing of the north.

    A communiqué issued at the end of the two day meeting held in Kaduna and jointly signed by the Secretary General of ACF, Col. John Ubah (rtd) and Secretary Code Group, Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, said the need for improved unity to mitigate the potential damage of partisan politics and use of religion and ethnicity to weaken the region was imperative.

    The communiqué said, “The North has a majority in population, and should use this advantage to negotiate and support candidates and programmes that will address current challenges in the region and its need for massive rehabilitation and economic reconstruction in the future.

    “We have also resolved to mobilize northern leaders to engage leaders from other parts and sections of the country in discussions and activities aimed at finding solutions to common problems and long term strategies for improving the nation’s security, unity and prosperity.”

    It said the North recognises the necessity of collaborating with other Nigerians including those living outside on the basis of mutual respect and knowledge that Nigeria can only overcome its current challenges if all stakeholders are genuinely involved in shaping its future.

  • Adamawa: ‘Why Fintiri cannot contest in 2015’

    Adamawa: ‘Why Fintiri cannot contest in 2015’

    The National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, Prof. Wale Oladipo has said that the Acting Governor of Adamawa State and the party’s candidate in the October 11 bye-election, Ahmadu Fintiri, voluntarily opted out of the 2015 governorship poll.

    He spoke on Tuesday at the party’s national secretariat while playing host to a delegation from a group under the platform of the “National Students’ Wing” of the PDP, led by Mr. Success Wada.

    Oladipo debunked insinuations that Fintiri was arm-twisted into forfeiting his chances of contesting the 2015 poll, saying “Fintiri himself opted not to contest in 2015 if he wins the October 11 bye-election.”

    He continued: “We didn’t force any candidate to step down. I was the Secretary of the Committee that met with them and what happened was that we pointed it out that it will be morally wrong for whoever wins now to contest the 2015 election.

    “The implication is that such a person will only rule the state till the expiration of the original term of Murtala Nyako in 2015. And eight of them voluntarily withdrew, saying that they would prefer to wait and contest the 2015 election. Nobody was forced. We don’t have a class captain in the PDP.”

    Oladipo said the agreement, though not in writing, was “robust, solid and voluntary,” stressing that the party is “one big family.”

    The party scribe added that safeguards have been put in place to ensure that none of the six aspirants that contested the party’s primary election contests the 2015 election. He did not elaborate on the safeguards.

  • 2015: U.S ambassador cautions against violence

    The United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. James Entwistle, has cautioned Nigerian politicians against violence during the 2015 elections, saying violence remained a threat to democracy.

    Entwistle urged candidates to commit themselves to the principle fair play before, during and after elections, stressing that it was necessary for politicians to begin to make such commitments before the general election.

    The envoy spoke on Wednesday during a courtesy call on the national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abuja.

    He pledged the U.S support for the Nigerian government towards a successful conduct of 2015 general election, saying the long standing relationship between the two countries has made it imperative for such assistance.

    Entwistle pledged to also reach interface with other political parties in Nigeria, with the view to gauging their commitment to the electoral process.

    He said, “That is what we stand for and as part of that, I will try to be in touch with all parties to understand them, so that we can be knowledgeable about the electoral process here.

    “From our own historical experience, we understand the importance of elections. The United States will support the Nigerian people in their quest to ensure a credible and transparent election that they want and deserve.

    “I think it is incumbent on all of us to work towards this, history shows us that one election can make the difference. It may not happen overnight, but genuine change in every society is only possible in a true democratic process.”

    The National Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, who spoke on behalf of the party leadership, said the party was committed to deepening internal democracy through transparent party primaries.