The Nation Newspaper

Tag: 2015 poll

  • 2015: PDM admits getting merger offers

    2015: PDM admits getting merger offers

    …Opts for alliances

    The Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM) on Thursday admitted that some parties have approached it for merger but it might consider alliances.

    The party, which has raised 10 Action Committees, also said it was not formed to promote the presidential ambition of ex-Vice-President Atiku Abubakar.

    It has also decided not to participate in the forthcoming governorship poll in Anambra State.

    The PDM made the disclosures in a statement issued in Abuja by Mr. Alaba Yusuf, who is the Media Advisor to its National Chairman.

    The disclosures were the outcome of the post-registration National Executive Committee meeting at the Party’s headquarters in Abuja.

    The statement said: “The Chairman, Mallam Bashir Yusuf Ibrahim disclosed that some parties have approached the PDM and proposed a merger but the party would not subsume its identity to any party, rather it will relate as equals.

    “He reiterated that PDM will not merge with any other party but there could be room for future alliances.

    “On whether the PDM was formed to actualise the presidential dream of former Vice President Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the chairman said it is untrue and a mere rumour.

    “However, he said PDM belongs to all eligible Nigerians and all is welcome to join the party of light, security, equity and unity.”

    The PDM said it opted to transform into a political party because the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had “strayed like a lost child.”

    He said contrary to insinuations, the transformation of PDM into a party had the backing of the leaders of the group.

     

     

  • Only constitution can stop Jonathan – Clark

    Only constitution can stop Jonathan – Clark

    A former federal commissioner for information, Chief Edwin Clark, has said that it is only the constitution that can stop President Goodluck Jonathan from contesting the 2015 presidential election.

    He noted that the purported agreement between the president and some governors on the platform of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) does not hold water.

    The Ijaw leader explained that since the constitution made provision for two terms, every other agreement on number of terms for the president is illegal.

    Clark blamed the ongoing noise about the president second term bid on some few politicians who he accused of overheating the polity for their personal ambitions.

    He spoke on Tuesday when he received a delegation of Second Republic federal legislatures at his Asokoro House, Abuja.

    He said, “So Nigeria is great, only few people want to confuse this country because of their personal ambitions.

    “Today is Mr. President’s turn, tomorrow it will be another man’s turn. That is why we have the constitution. The constitution says that before you can be qualified to be a president of this country, you must have contested through elections and after the first term of four years, you can contest again for a second term of another four years. Thereafter, you will not be eligible again, that is the law.

    “The law does not state that you remain in office for one term, you can enter into agreement with some individuals that after your one term, someone else will come in, that will be illegal. Such an agreement will be null and void, unconstitutional; nobody can change the constitution of Nigeria that is the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    “Even though people are saying that it is imperfect, it is perfect until it is changed or amended. I think under section 137, Mr. President is entitle to two terms of eight years and as a former member you recognize that in your time Alhaji Shehu Shagari, the president during the Second Republic of Nigeria was elected president of this country in 1979 and he remained in office until 1983 when we sat down again at the convention and re- elected him.

    “You were all there and that was the time all of you left but that was the time some of us were elected as senators but for the military intervention. Some of them here said it is time for military to rule so they over threw our government in December 1983.

    “We woke up and they said we are no longer in office otherwise Alhaji Shagari should have remained in office until the end of his second term. Then, Obasanjo was elected the president of this country in 1999. In 2003, he re- contested in accordance with the provision of the Nigerian Constitution for another four years even though his deputy was trying to over throw him, he couldn’t succeed because of the constitution.

    “Nigeria said come back again for another four years. It was when he wanted to go beyond what the constitution provided that Nigerians said enough is enough.”

     

     

     

  • 2015: INEC takes delivery of 20m voters’ cards

    2015: INEC takes delivery of 20m voters’ cards

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), on Thursday said it has taken delivery of 20 million permanent voters’ cards for 2015 general elections in the country.

    The Resident Electoral Commission (REC), in charge of Akwa Ibom, Mr. Gabriel Ada, disclosed this in Uyo at a stakeholders meeting organised by the commission.

    He said the voters’ cards would help to phase out the temporary voters cards in the system.

    The REC said the permanent card has a micro-chip with bio-data of every voter.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that other features  include a readable card which every registered voter would present at the polling unit before being allowed to vote.

    Ada said the equipment was designed to record the total number of people that are accredited and the total votes cast at each polling unit during elections.

    He said the initiative would help to fashion out irregularities in the system and also check unhealthy activities of desperate politicians during election.

    The REC said the commission has been restructured to enhance its operations.

    Ada said over 6,000 field officers have been employed to help institutionalise core values in the organisation.

     

  • ‘Oil firms face losses over 2015 poll’

    Oil producing firms in the Niger Delta risk losing their investments to pre- and post-2015 election conflicts unless urgent steps are taken to avert such crises, the United States Institute for Peace, has said.

    In a special report, titled: What next for security in the Niger Delta, the group said major conflict drivers were still in place in the region despite the Federal Government’s decision to grant amnesty to militants.

    In the past, the region witnessed kidnappings, killings, destruction of oil pipelines and wells and loss of revenues arising from oil theft, among other problems that attracted the attention of local and international agencies.

    According to the report, issues such as wavering leadership on security, the closedown of amnesty in 2015, exclusion of some militants, divisions within the oil producing communities and post-election results, among others, could lead to violence and eventual disruption of oil facilities in 2015.

    It said: “Some possible triggers could have only distant ties to elections. In the run up to 2015, for instance, violence could flare around law enforcement efforts , particularly Joint Task Force (JTF) action on oil theft. During the 2000, skirmishes between soldiers and militants over stolen oil triggered a number of larger violent episodes. Some of the more financially independent groups could react badly to a crackdown on theft, not least those that have enjoyed period of impunity.”

    The report said militants dissatisfied with, or excluded from the amnesty programme could launch fresh attacks before the voting day, adding that there are many splinter groups, or factions that could fuel violence based on their perceived wrong treatments by the government.

    “While the amnesty has prevented some youths from committing crimes, such as kidnapping of expatriates and destruction of oil facilities among others, the programme and the complimentary initiatives have not meaningfully reduced the widespread corruption, zero-sum resource competition, under employment, local economic dysfunction, high youth unemployment, environmental degradation, lack of public accountability or criminality that fuelled past violence in the region,” the report said.

  • APC will sweep 2015 elections – Al-Makura

    APC will sweep 2015 elections – Al-Makura

    Governor Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa State, on Tuesday expressed optimism that the All Progressive Congress would win the 2015 general election.

    Al-Makura made the remark when he received the Chairman, Merger Committee of Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Alhaji Garba Gadi in Lafia.

    “With the synergy and brotherliness shown by the merger committee, the merger would succeed and APC would win all the forthcoming elections,” the governor said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that he commended the committee for its efforts and pledged his continued support to ensure the success of the merger.

    ‘’Not only the CPC, but Nigerians as a whole have seen the efforts of the merger committee,” he added.

    Earlier, Gadi commended the governor for his immense contributions toward the merger of the opposition political parties.

    “Without your support, the merger committee would not have achieved the set objectives, and this would continue to be appreciated by all of us,” he said.

    According to him, the purpose of the visit is to appreciate the support and guidance given by Al-Makura which has enabled them to succeed.

    Gadi urged the APC governors and the party leadership to quickly settle the issue of those that would lead the APC, for it to move forward.

     

  • PDP, NGF crises caused by 2015 ticket – Jang

    PDP, NGF crises caused by 2015 ticket – Jang

    The Governor of Plateau State, Jonah Jang, has said the quest for the 2015 presidential ticket was responsible for the crises in the Peoples Democratic Party and the Nigeria Governors’ Forum.

    He made the remark at the end of the meeting of the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT) held at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Wednesday.

    “We know this whole thing is about 2015. But I want to let them know that 2015 is in the hands of God. Let us wait and see,” the News Agency of Nigeria quoted the governor as saying at the meeting.

    Jang insisted that he remained the authentic chairman of the NGF and promised to make peace with the other governors keeping away from the meetings presided over by him.

    “In a big party such as this, you will expect these crises to happen. PDP is solid and if some opposition thinks they will use our members to break our ranks, they are wasting their time.

    “By the time we finish our National Executive Council meeting, PDP will come back stronger,’” he said.

    The Secretary of the BoT, Sen. Walid Jibril, said the wrangling in the party formed part of the discussion at the meeting.

    “Details will unfold at the NEC meeting on Thursday.

    “We discussed matters connected to the progress of our party in preparation for the NEC meeting coming up on Thursday.

    “We want to assure you that details of the activity will be properly communicated to you after the NEC meeting,” Jibril said.

    He explained that as an advisory body, the BoT cannot enforce its resolution until it is ratified by NEC.

    President Goodluck Jonathan; Vice President Muhammad Namadi Sambo, Senate President David Mark; Deputy Senate President Ike Ekwerenmadu and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, attended the meeting.

    Others were former PDP National Chairman, Sen. Barnabas Gemade, Prof. Jerry Gana, Chief Jim Nwobodo and Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu.

     

     

  • South West PDP endorses Jonathan for second term

    The South West chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, on Tuesday endorsed President Goodluck Jonathan for a second term in 2015.

    This is contained in a communiqué signed by the Chairman, South West Caretaker Committee of the PDP, Chief Ishola Filani at the end of the committee’s meeting.

    The forum said it endorsed Jonathan because of his leadership qualities and transformation efforts.

    “After carefully x-raying the President’s qualities and in view of the fact that he is constitutionally qualified to seek re-election, the forum unanimously endorsed him for a second term in 2015,” the communiqué said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that it also passed a vote of confidence in the transformation agenda of Jonathan and the leadership role of the National Chairman of the PDP.

    The forum also passed same on the PDP National Working Committee, as well as its Zonal Caretaker Committee.

    The forum commended the President on the measures so far taken in combating the current security challenges in the country.

    The meeting agreed that former President Olusegun Obasanjo should be the grand patron of the PDP in the South West.

    It agreed to work as an entity for the success of the PDP in all forthcoming elections in Nigeria, starting with the 2014 governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun, to the presidential and general elections in 2015.

     

     

  • Why we formed APC – Oshiomhole

    Why we formed APC – Oshiomhole

    Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, on Wednesday said the Action Congress of Nigeria and other opposition parties came together to form the All Progressives Congress to enable Nigerians have a robust choice in the governance and development of the country.

    Speaking in Benin City, the governor said: “If a democracy is not capable of bringing a change of parties that can form government at all levels that democracy is not on course.”

    “The good news is that in our neighbouring countries they have shown that it is possible for a government to recognise the ultimate right of the people to determine who governs them. They have been able to have different parties at different time, forming the federal and other levels of government.”

    Oshiomhole spoke when members of the Igbo Community Union in the state paid him a courtesy call at the Government House, Benin City.

    He said, “Nigeria cannot continue to play leadership of the African continent if we don’t get our politics right. It is also the business of those in the other parties to recognise that when we pull resources together, it is better to be a small fish in a big pond than to be a big fish in a small pond in which you cannot even swim. I am hopeful that all of us will continue to commit ourselves to democracy and in all recognise that power without purposes is meaningless.

    “We must play politics on the basis of commitment to use political power and allocate resources in such a way that it is pro-people, pro-development, pro-employment, and pro-welfare. The statistics that government rolls out not just for the fun of it are statistics that actually reflect on the quality of life of the man on the street,” he added.

     

  • ‘Jonathan free to seek re-election in 2015’

    ‘Jonathan free to seek re-election in 2015’

    ...Ekwueme, Clark , Gbonigi gives president go ahead on poll

    …Supports emergency rule

    The Southern Nigerian Peoples Assembly (SNPA) has said no person can determine who becomes the country’s president in 2015.

    The group argued that the choice resides in the Nigerian people and not subject to whims and caprices of any one person or group of persons.

    Besides, the group noted that President Goodluck Jonathan has the right to seek re-election in 2015 if he so desired.

    The group also called on the president to convene a national conference as a way of halting the political tension that has enveloped the country.

    The group’s position was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of its 3rd General Conference held in Lagos and signed by Rev. Bolanle Gbonigi (South West), Former Vice President Alex Ekwueme, (South-East) and Chief Edwin Clark (South-South).

    The meeting was attended by over 150 delegates, with Dr. Cairo Ojougboh and Senator Lee Maeba leading a host of former legislators to the conference.

    The group also applauded the president for the bold step towards ending the insecurity in the country and therefore passed a vote of confidence on him.

    “The choice of who becomes the president of Nigeria in 2015 resides with the Nigerian people and not subject to the authority, whims and caprices of any one person or persons,” the group stated.

    “The observed unease in the polity culminating from the several threats and drums of war is a clear expression of continual shrinking space for national dialogue. As we move gradually towards the precipice, our rescue lies only in the convocation of a national conference which shall provide an unfettered platform for Nigerians to negotiate and agree on terms of living together on the basis of mutual respect and trust. This is the only way to justify and make meaningful our centenary celebrations,” it added.

     

     

  • Stop threatening war over 2015 poll, Tukur warns Dokubo, others

    Stop threatening war over 2015 poll, Tukur warns Dokubo, others

    The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, has sent a word of caution to ex Niger Delta militant, Asari Dokunbo and others threatening to go to war if President Goodluck Jonathan is not re-elected in 2015.

    Speaking with reporters at the party secretariat on Monday, Tukur said it is wrong for anyone to make such threats over election, saying democracy is about people making a free choice through the ballot.

    Ex- Niger Delta militant, Dokunbo and the Special Adviser to the President, Mr. Kinsley Kuku were, in separate statements penultimate week, quoted to have said the people in the Niger Delta region will go to war if President Jonathan fail to secure re-election in 2015.

    Tukur said there was no reason for such threats as the present administration will guarantee free and fair elections for the Nigerian people. He stressed that election is a competition in which the people are allowed to freely choose their leaders at the poll.

    According to him, in a free and fair election, there is no reason for losers or any group to threaten war if their preferred candidate did not win election.

    “Elections should be a free and fair affair. So it is wrong for anyone or group to threaten to go to war over election. It is about people making their choice.

    “Everyone is free to offer himself for election but it is the duty of the people to choose whoever they want,” he affirmed.