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  • Northwest PDP leaders endorse Jonathan for 2015

    Northwest PDP leaders endorse Jonathan for 2015

    •Lamido, Shema absent
    •Jonathan/Shema poster floods venue

    Leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Northwest geo-political zone yesterday endorsed the candidacy of President Goodluck Jonathan for the 2015 election.

    They affirmed their support at a meeting attended by Vice President Namadi Sambo in Kaduna.

    Party Chairman Adamu Mu’azu, National Organising Secretary Abubakar Mustapha, Zonal Chairman Amb. Adamu Kazaure, Senator Magoro and Sokoto State Deputy Governor Mukhtar Shagari, all attended the meeting.

    The Northwest comprising seven states Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara, Kano, Katsina, Kaduna and Jigawa states has the largest population of voters among the six geo-political zones.

    Yesterday’s meeting is believed to be the zone’s response to the ongoing activities orchestrated around President Jonathan’s undisguised but yet to declared bid for re-election.

    The PDP through the Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) Transformation Ambassador of Nigeria (TAN) has been holding rallies in geo-political zones in support of the President’s candidature.

    The rallies have been held in the Southeast, Southwest and Southsouth zones.

    Governors in the Northwest zone attended are ex-Capt. Sule Lamido (Jigawa) and Ibrahim Shema (Katsina).

    House of Representatives Speaker Aminu Tambuwal also did not attaend.

    Though absent, posters of Jonathan/Shema for President/Vice President in 2015 flooded the venue, leading speculation to the rumour that some forces within the party were rooting for dropping of Sambo from the ticket.

    Speaking on behalf of the governors from the zone, Kebbi State Governor Usman Dankingari, the governors would ensure that they deliver the zone which he described as the most sophisticated ad most populous in terms of voting size in the country to President Jonathan.

    National Chairman Mu’azu said the party which is as “constant as the northern star”, remain a party to beat and urged members in the zone to remain united so as to deliver the zone in 2015.

    A communique issued at the end of the meeting read by Ambassador Aminu Wali, Minister of Foreign Affairs, said the president had done a lot to deserve a second term.

    He said the region would remain grateful to the Jonathan administration, especially in terms of infrastructural upliftment, good governance and the promotion of democracy.

    “Several beneficial projects have been sited in the northwest for the rapid socio-economic transformation of the region.”

    The communiqué added: “Having carefully considered the steady and stable progress of our nation under the able leadership of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, the stakeholders of the PDP in the northwest zone, having in mind the monumental strides attained by this administration, have resolved to endorse Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to declare for president in the forthcoming 2015 elections so as to continue the good work he started in nation building. We ask for nothing less.

    “Consequently, we respectfully call on the National  Chairman of our party to convey this resolution and unanimous declaration of the entire leadership and membership of the PDP in the Northwest zone to His Excellency Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to surrender  himself for the continued service to the nation.”

  • 2015: Buhari’ll declare ambition soon, says ex-minister

    2015: Buhari’ll declare ambition soon, says ex-minister

    A former Petroleum Resources Minister Umaru Dembo has said former Head of State and a national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) General Muhammadu Buhari will declare for next year’s presidential race when he returns from his overseas trip.

    The former minister dispelled the rumour that Gen. Buhari would not contest the 2015 election but would approve Kano State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso for the ticket.

    Dembo spoke yesterday in Kaduna at the inauguration of the Isa Ashiru Campaign Team.

    The former minister said other presidential aspirants were free to join the race for the APC ticket, adding that whoever emerges winner would be supported by party members.

    It was learnt that there had been speculations that Gen. Buhari would leave the ticket for Kwankwaso because he would not contest again, having done so in three previous elections.

    Also, the Director-General of the Ashiru Campaign Organisation, Ambassador Sule Buba, has said more Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members would defect to APC in Kaduna State.

    But he did not give a specific date this would happen, though he said the defection would be at the right time to “bury the PDP”.

    Buba said the success of the PDP in the previous elections rested on southern Kaduna, which gave the party block votes.

  • 2015: 4m in S/South endorse Jonathan

    2015: 4m in S/South endorse Jonathan

    •Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Delta lead, says Anyim

    The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF),Chief Pius Anyim said yesterday that four million people in the six Southsouth states have endorsed  President Goodluck Jonathan for re-election next year.

    According to Anyim, the people want the President to formally declare his retention to return for a second term, immediately.

    The SGF  who stood in for the President at the third edition of the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria’s (TAN’s) rally in Port Harcourt  to drum up  support for Jonathan ahead of his declaration, said the Southsouth endorsement is the  strongest so far .

    He gave the breakdown as follows: Rivers state – 1, 000,100; Akwa Ibom – 800, 000; Delta-750,000;Cross River-520,000; Bayelsa -516,000; and Edo-490,000.

    He said: “It (number of persons who endorsed Jonathan) is a great record that has been broken. Something significant has happened. You have proven that President Jonathan has a base. His zone is solidly behind him.

    “In my zone (South-East), we have been beaten by the people of the South-South zone. The registration is ongoing. If I return to my zone, the figure will double. South-South people have spoken. Other Nigerians will follow. I will take the message to Mr. President. At the appropriate time, Nigerians will hear from him.”

    At the rally were Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State; former governor of Rivers State, Dr. Peter Odili; Minister of State for Education, Chief Nyesom Wike; Culture and Tourism Minister Edem Duke; Works Minister Mike Onolememen and Sports Minister Tammy Danagogo as well as Federal and State legislators from the zone.

    Odili  said  that Rivers state remains solidly behind  Jonathan and asked the people to ensure “their son and great in-law” returns to office next year.

    The ex-Rivers governor (Odili) also lauded President Jonathan for the convocation of Uduaghan declared that the President “must” contest in 2015, having achieved much for the country.

    Danagogo described President Jonathan as “Original Port Harcourt Boy,” saying: “For us in Rivers State, we will be thanking you for what you are doing. The President is one of us. Rivers people are so happy. We have never had it so good.

    “Mr. President should declare for second term. We will vote massively for him. Not just because Mr. President is our own. He is an excellent product. Let us continue to support him. You are witnesses to his transformation agenda. Nigeria still needs President Jonathan’s brilliant performance to solve our national challenges.”

    Wike, in his remarks, thanked TAN for bringing the South-South rally to Port Harcourt, stressing that if the non-governmental organisation had done otherwise, many people would have concluded that Rivers state was not for President Jonathan, especially with the defection of Governor Rotimi Amaechi to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The minister of state for education said: “Rivers State is totally for President Jonathan. Everybody from the South-South is supporting President Jonathan. He is the first Nigerian President in 30 years to tackle the Almajiri menace, by giving the children basic education. The Federal Polytechnic of Oil and Gas in Bonny, Rivers State was also established by President Jonathan.”

  • 2015: We don’t know where we’re going, says Obasanjo

    2015: We don’t know where we’re going, says Obasanjo

    •Ex-President likens nation’s travails to Abacha’s era

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday likened the state of the nation to the late Gen. Sani Abacha’s military era, when he said the middle class was wiped out.

    But he told visitors to his home in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, that “tough times don’t last but tough people do”.

    The late Gen. Abacha was Nigerian Head of State between 1993 and 1998. He ruled with iron fist, sending many pro-democracy activists into exile.

    He jailed the winner of the 1993 presidential election, the late Bashorun Moshood Abiola.

    Obasanjo spoke when he hosted a delegation of the Nigerian Market/Traders’ Council, led by its National President, Yeye Osho.

    The former President recalled that a recent short messaging service (SMS) he got from a Nigerian requesting for financial assistance showed that the nation’s middle class was disappearing.

    The delegation of about 150 persons, including the Iyalode of Yorubaland, Chief Alaba Lawson, had representatives from the 36 states.

    It sought Obasanjo’s elderly counselling on the direction to take in the 2015 general elections.

    The former President read the message from his cell phone’s SM inbox to the delegation.

    He assured them that Nigerians would survive the hard times, as they did in the past.

    Obasanjo said: “As for me, we don’t know where we are going yet, may God show us the way. The way that will take this country and make it a great country, and when, for me ooo, I understand and (if) I see the way, I will tell you. I pray that God will show me the way. May God show you the way.

    “Tough times do not last forever. When tough times come, tough people get going. We will keep going and we will survive this though time.

    “I told him (the SMS sender) that we have experienced this period in time of Abacha. All the middle class were completely destroyed.”

    The former President said he was surprised that such people could afford even basic necessities befitting their status.

    He said: “I was surprised the day a Colonel in the Army complained to me that he and his family could not afford to buy a car.

    “A friend of mine, Dr. Okoro, is a doctor and his wife is also a doctor. They have a daughter, who is also a doctor. Among the three of them, they could not afford a new car. They had to go to Saudi Arabia. I pray we will not have such a time in Nigeria again.

    “We all have contributions to make and should not leave our responsibility to others. If we fail to participate in things that are meaningfully positive for this country, you will be a victim and we all become victims.”

    Yeye Osho said the council supported Obasanjo during his eight-year administration.

    She added: “We had tremendous support from you when you were in government. As such, we deem it necessary, and as a mark of respect, to find out on which direction we are going.”

  • 2015: APC decries plan to relaunch acronym battle against party

    2015: APC decries plan to relaunch acronym battle against party

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has decried an alleged plan by “unscrupulous and apparently-hired hands” to relaunch the acronym battle against the party.

    It alleged that the masterminds were “seeking to register three new parties that bear the acronyms of the same parties that merged to become the APC”.

    In a statement yesterday in Lagos by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said those behind the phantom parties, who are apparently working at the behest of people who have a mortal fear of the APC, have applied to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the Allied Council of Nigeria (ACN); Advanced National Patriotic Party (ANPP) and Conservative People’s Congress (CPC).

    It said the fact that the acronyms of the three entities tally with those of the APC component parties – the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) – is not accidental.

    According to the party, the registration of the phantom parties is a grand design by those who have been having sleepless nights since the APC was registered.

    APC said: “It is worthy of note that the three applications to INEC for the registration of the three organisations as political parties were made on the same day. Apparently, common sense takes flight in the face of great desperation!

    “Their plan is simple: Once the parties are registered, they will then apply to change their logos to those of the original ACN, ANPP and CPC, and then hope to be on the ballot for next year’s general elections. Just before the elections, the sponsors of the phantom parties will send out messages that the APC has splintered into its component parties for the purpose of the election. Whatever happens, their plan is to confuse the electorate and hamper the electoral fortunes of the APC.”

    The party urged INEC not to succumb to the antics of those who are planning to sabotage the 2015 general elections and win elections by subterfuge.

    It said: “This acronym battle is a part of the larger war against our party to prevent its registration. Nigerians will recollect that the same people, apparently, applied to register a phantom APC the moment it became clear that our merger would succeed and INEC would register our party, having met all the requirements to consummate the merger.

    “Thankfully, INEC refused to compromise its neutrality and integrity and chose to act in accordance with the law by registering our party.

    “We urge the electoral body to do the same now, in the face of unprecedented desperation by those who believe they can only win elections by cutting corners.”

    APC advised Nigerians to be vigilant as the 2015 elections approach, adding that those coming to terms with the reality that the party is a viable alternative in the country’s political firmament will stop at nothing to seek to mar its electoral fortunes.

  • 2015: Presidency, PDP plot against Tambuwal

    2015: Presidency, PDP plot against Tambuwal

    Irked by an alleged plan by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, to contest the 2015 Presidency, the Presidency and the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are working on different options to cut him to size, reports Assistant Editor, Remi Adelowo

    he stage appears set for what promises to be an epic battle between the Presidency, the national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on one hand and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, on the other.

    The Speaker had, last week, stirred the hornets net when he gave what many considered as his clearest hint yet that he may be bidding the PDP goodbye soon.

    Three years after he rallied forces within the PDP and other opposition parties to emerge as Speaker in contravention of the PDP’s zoning formula, which zoned the Speakership to the South-West region, the relationship between Tambuwal and the Presidency has been frosty at best.

    Months before he spoke last week on his future political ambition, the rumour mill has been agog on Tambuwal’s planned defection to the major opposition party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and alleged intention to contest the 2015 Presidency on the platform of the party.

    Albeit for tactical reasons, the Sokoto State-born lawmaker refrained from speaking on this subject, leaving his spokesman and political associates to talk on his behalf. And even at that, statements volunteered by these people have been ambiguous thereby leaving room for more speculations on the Speaker’s post-2015 game plan.

    But with his last week’s comments where he reportedly said that Nigeria deserves a better leadership in 2015, the Presidency and the PDP, sources revealed, have allegedly reached the conclusion that Tambuwal must be checkmated ‘before it is too late.’

    The many plots against Tambuwal

    The checkmating strategy, when it comes into effect, would not be the first in the many plots against Tambuwal in the last three years.

    Banking on his broad-based support in the House, which defies political affiliation of his colleagues, Tambuwal has successfully survived several plots by forces allegedly backed by the Presidency to remove him from office.

    About three years ago in the aftermath of Hon. Farouk Lawan bribery scandal which rocked the House of Representatives to its foundation, some House members, allegedly backed by external forces, made attempts to link the Speaker to the scandal. But this move was thwarted following a vote of confidence passed on Tambuwal by his colleagues.

    Another instance was cited of an alleged plot allegedly spearheaded by a lawmaker from the South-South to impeach Tambuwal.

    The lawmaker, who is said to be the Chairman of a ‘Grade A’ committee, had attempted to pitch House members against the Speaker on the excuse that Tambuwal had been less than transparent in the purchase of Toyota Camry cars purchased for all the committees in the House in the discharge of oversight functions.

    To douse tension and put the record straight, the Speaker allegedly convened an executive session during which he reportedly laid bare all the facts of the case.

    But rather than mete out sanctions against the lawmaker as canvassed by majority of House members, the lawmaker was let off the hook after he tendered an apology to the Speaker.

    “Aside from the apology offered by the member, who is still occupying his position till date, no punitive measure was taken against him by the Speaker,” said a lawmaker, who was present while the whole drama played out.

    When all moves against the Speaker in the House failed, his antagonists shifted their plot against him to his home state, with alleged attempts to instigate the local chapter of the PDP to expel Tambuwal from the party.

    The alleged plan, it was gathered, was for the PDP local chapter to announce Tambuwal’s expulsion, with the national leadership coming into the picture later by ‘magnanimously’ converting the expulsion to suspension “pending further investigation.”

    Sources said the local executive members of the party, however, saw through the plot and declared that it was beyond them to expel him.

    The Nation learnt that days before the execution of the plot, some chieftains of the party in the state had allegedly gone round urging PDP members in Tambuwal’s local government to append their signatures and names to a “vote of no confidence” motion meant to be passed on the Speaker after his planned expulsion.

    But like a cat with the proverbial nine lives, the Speaker again survived the plot through the intervention of Governor Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko.

    The governor, according to sources, reportedly prevailed upon the party chieftains in Tambuwal’s local government not to allow themselves be used to disturb the peace of the state.

    New offensive in the offing

    Not deterred on the many failed plots against Tambuwal in the past, sources revealed that Presidency strategists are exploring fresh options to get rid of the Speaker within the next two months.

    Buoyed by the recent defections of some APC, Labour Party (LP) and All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) members in the House of Representatives to the PDP (with more allegedly in the offing), hawks in the Presidency are said to be convinced that with the numerical advantage enjoyed by the PDP in the House, an impeachment move should be launched against Tambuwal as soon as possible.

    The calculations, it is said, is to put the Speaker on the defensive, giving little or no ample time to mobilise on his alleged presidential project.

    A source said, “The PDP leadership is eager to get rid of Tambuwal and seems confident of actualising the plan. What may likely happen is that PDP members in the House will be issued a stern directive to move against Tambuwal once the coast is clear.”

    Tambuwal’s counter-strategy

    Aware that the Presidency and the PDP leadership can’t wait for too long to see his back, sources disclosed that the Speaker’s camp has also devised measures to save his job.

    The Speaker’s greatest strength is his close relationship with his colleagues, which transcends official or party matters.

    For most of the House members, particularly those committee chairmen, The Nation gathered that they have vowed to remain loyal to the Speaker, who despite pressure from some unnamed forces, have consistently declined to remove them.

    This tactical decision, more than anything else, has ensured the stability of the 7th National Assembly and consolidated the support base of the Speaker.

    How Tambuwal will continue to navigate the landmines laid on his path in the months ahead remains to be seen.

  • 2015: Where are the presidential candidates?

    2015: Where are the presidential candidates?

    Exactly 171 days to the 2015 presidential poll, candidates are yet to emerge, a development that means they won’t have ample time to mobilise across the nation and force voters into making hasty decisions, writes Sunday Oguntola

    Who are those contesting the February 14, 2015 as presidential candidates? When are the parties conducting their primaries to elect their candidates for the make-or-mar poll? Who will be flying their flags?

    These are the questions agitating the minds of political stakeholders and observers as the nation prepares for the crucial process of electing a president come 2015. To many observers, the absence of presidential aspirants, let alone candidates exactly 171 days to the poll is as worrisome as it is debilitating.

    Our investigation revealed that many aspirants are playing hide-and-seek because of the pervasive uncertainty hanging in the political space. Many of them confided that they are watching the tides to know how to jump into the moving train.

    “You know you have to be very careful these days. Fine, it’s good to be courageous and take risks but you have to realise that many things are yet to take shape. For example, the parties are not ready for primaries to pick their candidates. So, you have to watch first and know when to declare your intention,” an aspirant said last week.

    Many aspirants, who spoke under strict anonymity, said they cannot declare their intentions because the presidential primaries are yet to hold. “It is when the primaries are conducted and the candidates start emerging that we would know where to align. Until then, our aspirations have to remain ambitions,” an aspirant in the South-South region stated.

    Interestingly, the nation’s main political parties, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Congress (APC) appear to be sizing up each other before throwing out their presidential cards. While it is a taken fact that President Goodluck Jonathan will pick the ticket of the ruling PDP, the APC’s candidates are still slugging it out among themselves.

    For now, private speculators allege that leading aspirants in the party include Gen Muhammadu Buhari (Rtd.), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Senator Bukola Saraki and Kano State Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso. Rumours abound that House of Representatives Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal, might also defect to the APC to contest the presidential race. There is also Mr. Sam Nda-Isaiah.

    To observers, the uncertainty on who will contest the presidential race is unhealthy for the polity. For one, the party primaries are not likely to hold until October or November. That effectively means the presidential candidates will only emerge a little more than three months before the poll.

    Political parties cannot commence electoral activities until notice is given, going by the Electoral Act 2006. The notice of election, according to the Act, can be given by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) “not later than 150 days before the day appointed for holding of an election”. This means primaries cannot hold until then.

    This development, according to observer, will make it possible for voters to assess their candidates and make informed decisions. The Executive Director of Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, believes that the situation will lead to hurrying voters to make hasty decisions and affect good governance at the end. He said: “We have been lamenting because what we have now means that the electorate will be ambushed by unprepared candidates to pick them at all costs.”

    He regretted that many candidates that will eventually emerge from the process without much time will be ill-prepared and ill-equipped for the onerous task of leading the nation. “We need quality leaders, especially at the presidency to really move this nation forward. But as it is now, that cannot happen. Those who will emerge will be unprepared because the parties are just not ready,” he stated.

    He stressed that the political recruitment process in the nation leaves much to be desired and works against national development. “I believe the parties do not want to be democratic about it; they just want to force candidates down our throat and we will have no choice than to pick from the many unprepared lots.”

    The absence of presidential candidates less than six months to the poll, he said, shows the lack of political maturity among parties. “They just want power at all costs without minding how it will affect us. At the end of the day, we are the losers for it,” the member of the just-concluded National Conference lamented.

    The President of the Centre for Democracy and Social Economic Rights (CDSER), Popoola Ajayi, said every well-meaning Nigerian should be concerned and alarmed that less than six months to a presidential poll, candidates have not emerged. “In most democracies, you will start seeing the candidates one year to the polls. But this is not so here and it shows we are not ready to move forward at all. The undemocratic nature of our parties is partly responsible for it,” he stated.

    He explained that since the candidates won’t emerge until three months before such a crucial election, they won’t have ample time to sell their programmes and candidacy. “Nigeria is a big, vast country. How can you criss-cross the length and breadth in just three months? How can they tell us what they offer if elected? How can we assess them and make informed decisions?”

    Ajayi blamed parties for the absence of aspirants, saying many of them are scared of throwing themselves into the race for fear of wasting time and resources. “They know that the eventual candidates might be imposed. So why waste time and resources on mobilisation when they might not make it?” he explained.

    A former President of Ijaw Youth Congress (IYC), Professor Kingsley Okoko, however disagreed that timing will not affect assessment of the candidates whenever they emerge. According to him: “It is strictly a party affair and quite frankly, I am not bothered. Whether it is a month or more is immaterial. When the candidates are ready, Nigerians will assess them based on their programmes.”

    Raphael James, an activist, believes political parties are deliberately slowing down the process of emergence of their candidates to frustrate informed voters. “This is how voter’s apathy begins. When we don’t have enough time to assess their candidates and consider their agendas, many will simply shrug and refuse to vote. Those who will vote will do it based on a sense of duty, not because they think they are making the needed changes.”

    Mindful of the Electoral Act provision that says candidates can only begin public campaigns only 90 days before the polls, Ajayi said parties should have concentrated on voters’ mobilisation and education to raise awareness. “The Act says you can’t campaign publicly but you can organise voter’s awareness and education seminar to market your programmes. That way, when the candidates emerge, the voters would have known your party and what you represent,” he explained.

    Rafsanjani couldn’t agree more. “If you can’t campaign you can have internal mobilisation and even do door-to-door mobilisation if you really mean business. To me, I think the parties are taking voters for granted that they will choose from their lesser evils, instead of empowering them to make the best choices,” he stressed.

    He believes  that if the intention is to make the poll issue-based, parties should have started the process of educating voters while preparing for the election. The hurried scenario that will emerge from the chaos, he said, means voters will have no choice but to consider non-essentials such as religion and ethnicity among presidential candidates.

  • 2015: APC women want vice presidential slot

    2015: APC women want vice presidential slot

    Women in the All Progressives Congress, under the auspices of the All Progressives Women Group, want the party to zone the position of the party’s Vice President to women in the party.

    In a statement signed by the President and General and Public Relations Officer of the group, Hajia Larai Kolo and Victory Senes respectively, the group said as the people with the highest number of votes, the women deserve better treatment.

    According to the group, it is  common knowledge that women have done creditably well in their chosen professions both nationally and internationally and should, therefore, be given due recognition by the party.

    The statement, which was made available to The Nation in Abuja Thursday reads: “We, the women in the APC, under the auspices  of All Progressive Women Group, are strongly advocating and insisting for a female vice-president in Nigeria. Our reason is not to be at loggerheads with men folk, but rather to consolidate the role of women leadership and nation building.

    “Today it is glaring that women, both at national and international levels, are doing very well in their areas of assignment. Therefore, we can match and compete with men in various leadership roles.

    “The unique governing style that the APC is proposing can only be achieved, if women are given the right of place in the polity.”

  • 2015: APC opts for modified direct primaries

    2015: APC opts for modified direct primaries

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) will start the process of picking its candidates for next year’s general elections in October, using modified direct primaries, the party said yesterday.

    This is one of the major decisions taken at the inaugural meeting of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) in Abuja.

    The party also urged President Goodluck Jonathan to suspend the state of emergency in Adamawa State to enable residents to exercise their civic rights in the October 11 governorship election.

    National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who briefed reporters on the outcome of the meeting, also accused President Goodluck Jonathan and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of violating electoral guidelines.

    Apart from the national officers of the party, five governors and former head of State Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, attended the meeting. Also present was former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

    Mohammed said: “This is the inaugural meeting of the National Executive Committee of the party since it was elected. This is because immediately after the national convention, we had to battle with the election in Ekiti, we had to contend with the impeachment threat in Adamawa and Nasarawa and we had to face the election in Osun.

    “Of course, this is not to say that we have not been meeting informally.

    “In today’s meeting, we discussed the forthcoming elections in Adamawa, Niger and the local government elections in Delta State. We also discussed the guidelines for the primaries of the party.

    “We had the governor of Osun (Rauf Aregbesola) who came not only to thank the party for its support, but also warned that the party must be prepared for the monstrousity and viciousness of the opposition political party in subsequent elections.

    “The party discussed guidelines on primaries and principally, the party has decided that the primaries will start  as early as October. We would want to ensure the participation of a large section of our people and so, we have opted for what we call a modified direct primary.

    “INEC says that you either do a direct or indirect primary and we have opted for the direct. In other words, we have opted for a method that will ensure the participation of the largest number of our members.

    “We call it modified because we are also aware of certain constraints of getting all our 20 million members or thereabout to queue for election, especially in areas where we have security challenges, like Yobe, Adamawa and Borno. We are working out a formula that will still enable the largest members of our party to participate.

    “But I want to say that we are not settling for delegate elections. We want to get people from the grassroots to be involved in our primaries because we want to show the world that we are different and that our party and our primaries would not only be grassroots inspired, it will be transparent and free.

    “Don’t forget that we are going to have more than one primary election. Everybody seems to be focussing on the presidential primary. There will also be primary for members of state Houses of Assembly, National Assembly and for the governorship election. We are going to have separate primaries staggered over a period of time.

    “The party did not discuss anything about zoning”.

    He added: “The highlight of the discussion with regard to the elections in Adamawa is that the party is very worried and concerned about the neutrality of certain public officials.

    “I think that one thing the party insisted on is that with the state of emergency in Adamawa state today, for an election to be free and fair, the party will insist that the curfew imposed on the state be lifted temporarily during the elections.

    “I don’t want to be misquoted, I don’t want to be misunderstood. We are not saying that they should lift the state of emergency. We are saying that the curfew must be suspended for the period of the election.

    “In the northern part of Adamawa for example, by 6.00pm, the curfew is on. We are not confident that under such a condition, you can have a free and fair election. So, we are asking the Federal Government to lift temporarily for the period of the election, the curfew in all parts of Adamawa State.”

    Mohammed stressed that the party is not worried about the recent defection of the former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, to the PDP, saying that the party had moved on.

    He said: “You see, the beauty of politics is the freedom of association. No party would want to lose any of its members. But we believe that the APC is such a strong brand with a strong followership in Adamawa and all over Nigeria that the defection of one person will not adversely affect our fortune and we have moved on since his defection.”

    He said the party was convinced that the PDP had already chosen its presidential candidate for the elections, stressing that the clamour for President Jonathan to come out and declare for the election was just a game.

    He said: “I think that the PDP has already come out with its candidate. I think we must be fooling ourselves if we consider all these orchestrated drama about asking Jonathan to come and run.

    “But one thing we are saying is that Mr. President and the PDP are violating the electoral guidelines with impunity, with nobody to stop them. I can assure you that we in the APC are not threatened by the emergence of any candidate.

    “The only thing that threatens us is the absence of a level playing field. If a free and fair election is conducted in Nigeria today, we are very confident that we are going to defeat PDP. But we will insist that a level-playing field is procured.”

    Speaking on the renewed move by members of the Nasarawa state House of Assembly to impeach Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, Mohammed said: “I think that the constitution of the country is very clear on this issue.

    “You cannot try a person twice for the same offence and the members of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly should know that they are a product of a constitution and that it is the same constitution that they invoked in trying to impeach the governor.

    “So, they can’t go outside that constitution again to impeach him. What they can do in law is very simple. They should find a new set of allegations, if there are any, follow the same procedure. Most importantly, they have no liberty to ask a vacation judge to go and and set up a panel.

    “They must go back to the same Chief Judge to empanel the impeachment committee. I think that they should understand that Nigerians are tired of this era of impunity because what they want to embark upon is just impunity.

    “They are saying that they are going to resubmit the same set of allegations which has been dismissed and they are going to take advantage of the vacation and ask a vacation judge to come and set up a panel; that will be blatantly illegal. For us, it is nothing but noise”.

    On the conduct of public officers, he said: “Honestly, we are concerned about the neutrality of certain public officials in the last couple of months. Institutions which ought to be neutral have today taken partisan roles in elections.

    “We are very concerned that institutions which ought to be for the entire country have in recent times behave as if they are for a particular political party. We would in a few days elaborate on this because we are going to come out with a very powerful statement especially on the role of security agencies.

    “We are encouraged by the statement of the INEC chairman yesterday that hooded security personnel are not needed for any election. It is a sign of transparency for a security man who is coming to enforce laws to be transparent and the citizens have the right to know who he is, and the organisation he represents and to also see his face.

    “Jega was quoted as saying that some INEC officials were arrested by some overzealous security officials. The story of Osun election has not been told completely because the kind of monstrosity and viciousness the PDP embarked upon is better imagined.”

  • 2015: Bassey keeps supporters guessing

    ONE of the three strongmen of Cross River State politics and Chairman of the State Water Board, Mr Gershom Bassey, yesterday kept his supporters guessing on his governorship ambition.

    There are speculations that since he hails from the Southern Senatorial District and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has zoned the governorship to the Northern District, he is not qualified to contest for the position.

    Two members of what is known in the state as the three musketeers – former Governor Donald Duke from Southern Senatorial District) and Governor Liyel Imoke from Central Senatorial District – have occupied the office.

    Bassey told reporters that he could not say whether or not he would run.

    He said: “We play the politics of collective and not politics of self. The issue of succession has been addressed by the governor and the state PDP caucus and there is nothing else we can say, but to wait and see.

    “I will do anything the collective say I should do, provided it is in the best interest of the collective family. I will do what is in the best interest of all of us.

    “I have discussed with the governor and the former governor (Duke), but it has been a few months since the three of us sat together to discuss the future of Cross River State.

    “But from our social interactions, we do not have to talk too much because we are on the same page. Our aspiration for our state is very clear. We need to take our state to the next level because since 1999, successive governments, and when I say successive governments I mean Duke, in his first and second term, Imoke in his first and second term, have done better than previous governments. What we all want is for us to continue doing well.

     “A number of people have urged me to contest one position or the other; whether governorship or Senate, but I have not declared any intention. I am a complete team player. No one knows what is going to happen in 2015. What I can say is that I stand by the decision of the PDP caucus.”

    When asked if it was possible for someone from his senatorial district to succeed Imoke, Bassey said: “Yes, it is possible. You never know how things happen. Anything is possible. Even somebody from the Central District can be governor in 2015.”

    He said his dream was to see the state become the most prosperous in Nigeria, adding: “and I know that by the grace of God we are going to get there”.