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Tag: Alhassan

  • Taraba: Alhassan, APC, fault INEC’s request for tribunal’s relocation

    Taraba: Alhassan, APC, fault INEC’s request for tribunal’s relocation

    The Taraba State governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the last election, Hajia Aisa Alhassan and her party have faulted a request by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the relocation of the election tribunal to the state.

    The President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Zainab Bilkachuwa, empowered under the Constitution to constitute election tribunals in respect of disputed elections, set up the Taraba governorship tribunal in Abuja owing to security challenge in the state.

    INEC, in a motion, challenged the sitting of the tribunal in Abuja. It argued that the tribunal ought to sit in the state where the election was held.

    It also noted that the state’s legislative election tribunal was currently sitting in Jalingo, the state capital. INEC urged the tribunal to relocate to the state.

    In a counter-argument yesterday, lawyer to Alhassan and APC, Mahmud Magaji (SAN), faulted INEC’s request, wondering why the electoral umpire was more concerned about the location of the tribunal than the other respondents.

    “INEC is crying more than the bereaved. The main respondents to this petition (Governor Darius Ishaku and his party, the Peoples Democratic Party) have not challenged this tribunal’s decision to sit in Abuja,” Magaji said.

    He wonderd why INEC, with its headquarters in Abuja, was uncomfortable with the tribunal’s sitting in Abuja.

    Magaji argued that since INEC was, by its motion, challenging the Court of Appeal President’s exercise of her constitutional power, it should go before the Federal High Court.

    While urging the tribunal to note the decisions of the Akwa-Ibom and Rivers states governorship tribunals in similar motions, Magaji urged the tribunal to dismiss the motion by INEC.

    He also prayed the tribunal to grant his application for extension of time, which INEC objected to.

    The Akwa-Ibom and Rivers states tribunals had, in separate rulings, held that their relocation to Abuja, on grounds of security, was constitutional. They consequently assumed jurisdiction over petitions on governorship elections in both states.

    Lawyers to Ishaku and the PDP (whose victory are being challenged by the petitioners) Kanu Agabi (SAN) and Solo Aguma were indifferent to the tribunal’s sitting venue. They left decision on the issue to the tribunal’s discretion.

    The petitioners are challenging the outcome of the last governorship election in Taraba State, won by Ishaku of the PDP.

    Alhassan and her party are of the view that the election was marred with irregularities.

    Tribunal Chairman, Justice Musa Danladi Abubakar has fixed ruling for today.

  • Can Alhassan become first woman governor?

    Can Alhassan become first woman governor?

    Many believe a woman can not be a state governor in Nigeria. But a female senator representing Northern Taraba, Aisha Jummai Alhassan, is on the verge of proving wrong this gender dogma. She has won an incredible poll, defeating four influential men, to clench the gubernatorial ticket of the most powerful and most consolidated opposition party in the country-the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    It was an easy cruise for ‘Powerful’ Alhassan who polled a landslide 2, 425 votes of the total 2, 471 valid votes cast. The remaining 46 votes were shared among Mohammed Tumba Ibrahim, Yusufu Akirikwen and Julde Suleiman. Chairman of the electoral committee for the APC primaries in Taraba, Kola Shittu, described the election, which was held at the Jolly Nyame Sports Complex, as “free, fair and transparent.”

    The outcome of poll was not totally ridiculous. It was her hard work and philanthropy that paid. Mrs Alhassan, a lawyer, is arguably  the finest politician in Taraba state. She became senator on the platform of the PDP but she decamped to the opposition party to realise her ambition.

    Even in the PDP, then largely regarded as a political neophyte, Alhassan floored a serving senator, Anthony Manzo, to clinch the ruling party’s senatorship ticket. At the general election she crushed former Governor Jolly Nyame who was fielded by the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

    Alhassan, who may had foreseen today’s scenario, was prompt to join the league of senators who defected to the opposition when the PDP became polarised.

    Winning the APC ticket, she thanked delegates for the mandate given her. She extended the olive branch to her opponents which she described as gallant losers.

    The APC standard bearer called on her supporters and the entire people of the state to vote APC at the general elections in order to “erode PDP” from power.

    She accused the ruling party of failing the people and country. “PDP should not be allowed to continue in office in 2015,” she crusaded.

    She told newsmen: “The primary purpose of government is to take care of the people and protect their lives and  property. But under  PDP rein, the people are dying in poverty; their children cannot go to school and there is no infrastructural development to show.”

    Alhassan was the first female Commissioner of Justice and Attorney General of the state, first female registrar Abuja FCT and first female senator in Taraba state before winning an incredible poll to become the first governorship candidate in the northeastern geo-political zone.

    While she awaits the emergence of her opponent from the ruling party, powerful Alhassan appears unstoppable. While the infighting in PDP continues, Alhassan has continued to nurture the broom party, which is effectively growing and consolidating its hold in Taraba state. She has often said she would be voted the first female governor in Nigeria.

  • Easy ride for Alhassan in Taraba?

    Easy ride for Alhassan in Taraba?

    The crisis within the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the North East state of Taraba gives the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) a good chance of winning next year’s governorship election in the state. While aspirants within the ruling party are busy fighting one another, the APC has been consolidating its preparations towards the contest.

    Within the APC, there is no contest as such, as Senator Aisha Alhassan, is fast emerging as the consensus candidate of the party for the governorship position.

    Observers say there are only three genuine governorship aspirants in the state this time around; with two of them coming from the ruling PDP and the third one being the sole contender from the APC, Alhassan.

    Though the PDP has been governing the state since the return to civilian rule in 1999, the APC has the upper hand this time around, in the sense that it is facing the governorship contest as a united entity. While the APC, which has settled for Senator Alhassan as its candidate is already strategising on how to take over the state, the PDP on the other hand is still enmeshed in internal crisis over who succeeds the ailing Governor Danbaba Suntai.

    Alhassan made a foray into the political scene in 2011, when she contested for the Senate. She floored two political heavyweights in the person of former Governor Jolly Nyame and the then sitting Senator, Anthony Manzo, to clinch the seat.

    Alhasssan is an amazon of sorts and a lady of many firsts. For example, she was the first female to occupy the Office of Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice of Taraba State. She is also the first female politician to contest and beat two men in an election for the senatorial seat, which she now occupies. Now, she is on the verge of becoming the first female to vie for the office of the governor of the state. Given what she has done in the last three and half years to uplift the living conditions of her constituents, she may be on the threshold of making history once again.

    Alhassan comes from a family with a sound political background and appear to enjoy the support of the womenfolk and the youths. Her father was elected into the Federal House of Representatives in 1959 under the defunct Northern Peoples Congress (NPC).

    There are rumours flying around in Jalingo, the state capital, that the acting Governor Alhaji Sani Danladi has entered into an agreement with the Alhassan camp to ensure that the opposition party takes over the state. But, Danladi has described the allegation as untrue. He also said he has no plans to dump the ruling PDP to run for the governorship of the state under the APC.

  • Alhassan alters Taraba 2015 calculations

    Alhassan alters Taraba 2015 calculations

    The much speculated governorship ambition of Senator Aisha Jummai Alhassan who recently defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) has altered the dynamics likely to shape the 2015 governorship race in Taraba State, reports Assistant Editor, Remi Adelowo

    For trusted aides and loyalists of the Acting Governor of Taraba State, Alhaji Garba Umar, his alleged ambition to contest the 2015 governorship ambition is no longer a matter of if but when he would publicly acknowledge it.

    Though yet to formally declare his intention to assume the governorship seat in substantive capacity come May 29 next year, strong indications have emerged that Umar has been pulling out all the stops to win his party, the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP), nomination.

    To further enhance his chances at the polls, the acting governor has quietly embarked on an aggressive lobby of influential stakeholders in the state whose support is critical to the realisation of his ambition.

    Despite the running battle the acting governor has been having with loyalists of his ailing boss, Danbaba Suntan, The Nation gathered that his camp has come up with a three-pronged strategy to neutralise the opposition within and outside his party.

    Sources revealed that the first strategy is for Umar to have a firm grip of the government and the state House of Assembly. When it became apparent that Suntai will not return to his seat anytime soon, Umar had quickly fired Ambassador Emmanuel Njiwah, a Suntai loyalist, as the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), replacing him with Mr. Garvey Yawe. Besides six new commissioners Umar appointed, he also announced Alhaji Ahmed Yusuf as his Chief of Staff.

    With erstwhile Speaker of the House of Assembly, the late Haruna Tsokwa, also rallying the support of majority of his colleagues behind the acting governor, Suntai’s vestiges in government became even further obliterated.

    Following Tsokwa’s death late last year, another Umar loyalist, Mr. Josiah Kente, was elected as new speaker, a development that confirmed Umar’s consolidation of power in the North East state.

    Kente, a former Deputy Majority Leader of the Assembly, emerged through consensus after members agreed to zone the speakership position to Taraba South. Tsokwa was also from Taraba South.

    The deputy speaker, Tanko Maikerifi, was said to have been disqualified to ensure the emergence of a Christian to fill the post.

    With the cabinet and the legislature issue firmly settled, the acting governor, according to sources, has also been playing the ‘right politics’ in order to be in the good books of the presidency and the leadership of the party.

    This strategy, perhaps, explains why Umar has queued behind the position of the presidency on contending issues such as the leadership tussle in the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) and the now resolved crisis in the PDP that led to the ouster of its erstwhile National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur.

    The third and final strategy is the enlistment of support of influential figures in Taraba, including traditional rulers and elder statesmen, such as the former Minister of Defence, Gen. Theophillus Danjuma. Unconfirmed report has it that the acting governor sometime ago allegedly undertook some whistle-stop visits to some notable traditional rulers in the north, who he reasoned can put in a word for him with the powers that be in the presidency.

    But despite all of these alleged schemings by Umar, his alleged ambition is not going down well with some stalwarts of Taraba PDP. The arrowhead of this opposition is the senator representing Taraba South, Emmanuel Bwacha, who has also declared his intention to contest the governorship in 2015.

    Bwacha, a former Commissioner for Agriculture under Suntai’s predecessor, Reverend Jolly Nyame, and former member of the House of Representatives, has been unsparing in his criticisms of Umar for his refusal to revert back to his deputy governorship position, accusing the acting governor of being ‘inordinately ambitious.’

    The Nation gathered that in spite of his alleged underdog status in the contest for the PDP governorship ticket, Bwacha is confident of pulling the rug off the feet of Umar, perceived by many PDP members in Taraba State as the man to beat for the party’s ticket.

    Sources revealed that Bwacha, in order to shore up his support base, has been holding quarterly meetings with his loyalists, in addition to organising empowerment programmes for his constituents.

    Alhassan alters the dynamics

    For Senator Aisha Jummai Alhassan, her emergence and rise in the politics of Taraba State came like a bolt from the blues.

    While her admirers readily cite her grassroots appeal, philanthropy and courage as factors responsible for her meteoric rise in politics within a short period of seven years, her critics, however, argue otherwise.

    They are quick to point out that Alhassan’s alleged immense wealth and contacts in high places rather than her popularity contributed largely to her electoral victory in 2011.

    But either for her critics or admirers, one fact that is, however, incontestable is that Alhassan, a lawyer by training, has become a factor in Taraba politics.

    A former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Taraba State, Alhassan defeated Ambassador Anthony Manzo to secure the PDP senatorial ticket, and against earlier permutations, trounced ex-Governor Nyame, the candidate of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in the general elections.

    Though a Muslim, Alhassan’s ability to gain the support of the predominantly Christian population, largely accounted for her victory, much to the consternation of her opponents who thought the religious factor would be her undoing at the polls.

    With speculations gaining ground that the senator, who recently defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the PDP, is warming up for the 2015 governorship race, sources disclosed that there are fears within the PDP that the former Chief Registrar of the FCT High Court would be a hard nut to crack at the polls if she is fielded by the APC.

    At a rally held by the APC in Yola, the capital city of Adamawa State, Alhassan was the only woman among the other leaders of the party who were allotted time to speak to the crowd of party supporters. This development, a source in the party says, clearly portrays the senator as someone to watch in next year’s governorship race.

    The religious factor

    A Christian-dominated state, observers of Taraba politics posit that the alleged usurping of the governorship seat by Acting Governor Umar (a Muslim) may negatively affect the aspiration of any Muslim governorship candidate in the 2015 race.

    But supporters of Alhassan disagree with this school of thought. They are confident that the senator’s achievements as well as her pedigree are enough to defeat whoever the ruling party in the state presents as its candidate.

    As the countdown to next year’s polls begins, what is not in doubt is the fact that the 2015 Taraba State governorship election will be a straight fight between the PDP and the APC.

  • PDP crisis: Crackdown on Senators, Reps loyal to Baraje faction begins

    PDP crisis: Crackdown on Senators, Reps loyal to Baraje faction begins

    •Ex-Governor Adamu, Alhassan, others may lose choice properties

    The crisis in the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) may not be over following alleged plot to ‘deal’ with senators and representatives loyal to the G-7 governors and the Kawu Baraje faction of the party.

    Also, the tension in the House of Representatives, occasioned by the formation of New PDP, has forced the House leadership to adjourn sitting till October 22.

    According to findings, some loyalists of the president were alleged to have met secretly in Abuja on how to deal with some senators and members of the House of Representatives loyal to the Kawu Baraje faction.

    It was gathered that apart from starving the National Assembly of funds, some of the strategists also suggested moving against business and private interests of some key figures in the New PDP in the Senate and House of Representatives.

    A few other strategists felt the Presidency should try to give second chance to some members of the National Assembly by persuading them to align with the Bamanga Tukur faction.

    The proposed crackdown was informed by alleged plan by senators and representatives loyal to Baraje faction to gang-up against the Presidency in the National Assembly.

    It was learnt that part of the plot is to frustrate the passage of the 2014 Appropriation Bill which President Goodluck Jonathan may present soon.

    Findings revealed that although the president was not in the picture of what his foot-soldiers were planning, a principal aide was said to be central to the crackdown proposal.

    There is a move to conscript a minister into the plot.

    In one of the meetings, it was learnt that one of the strategists suggested moving against the business interests of some members of the National Assembly.

    In the first phase of the plan, it was gathered that an event centre, A Class Garden, belonging to Senator Aisha Alhassan from Taraba State has been marked for demolition.

    Also, the residence of ex-Governor Abdullahi Adamu (Nasarawa State) and a member of the House of Representatives within the precinct of the Presidential Villa were alleged to be sitting on waterways and might be demolished unless there is a rethink.

    A reliable source said: “Some of these strategists are already taking inventory of business sites and choice properties of those in Baraje faction in the National Assembly.

    “Their plan is to either demolish some of the business premises or revoke land allocation of some properties already marked. These strategists felt such crackdown will weaken the senators and reps and they would back out of Baraje faction.

    “They are desperate to deal with us. For instance, some of them have been vowing to deal with Senator Aisha Alhassan.”

    A principal officer of the House, who spoke in confidence, said: “We are aware of the plot to deal with all those associating with Baraje faction. Initially, they toyed with the idea of withdrawing our diplomatic passports; we got wind of it and aborted it.

    “The Executive has also refused to release the Fourth Quarter allocation of the National Assembly in order to starve members of funds because members of the Baraje faction and the opposition are in the majority.

    “They said we have been conspiring against the president. But this is imaginary. They have even got to the extent of mobilising some members of the House against Speaker Aminu Tambuwal.

    “We are not after President Goodluck Jonathan but some strategists believe in profiting from the crisis and they are selling the dummy to him.”

    Meanwhile, there were indications that tension over the Old and New PDP in the House of Representatives might have forced the House leadership to adjourn resumption of sitting till October 22.

    It was learnt that some money-bags have infiltrated the House to mobilise members against Tambuwal. But the Speaker has continued to enjoy the confidence of majority of the House members.

    It was, however, learnt that the minority members against Tambuwal had been directed by their sponsors to make the House ungovernable if there is opposition to any Executive Bill.

    The ultimate plan is to remove the speaker.

    A high-ranking member of the House said: “There is still tension in the House; this is why we cannot resume sitting until October 22.

    “Some forces in the Presidency are hell-bent in destabilising the House but the speaker is applying wisdom. These minority members have the backing of the government and they are ready to mar our sittings.

    “We hope the adjournment will allow those being used to have a rethink.”

    The Chairman of the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Rep Zakari Mohammed, however said: “We have adjourned resumption of plenary till October 22 because we want to continue our oversight functions.

    “We want to be thorough in our appraisal of the performance of the 2013 budget. The President is bringing 2014 Appropriation Bill soon but we have to give him concrete assessment report to enable him make adjustment in the overall interest of the nation’s development.

    “It is not true that the adjournment was as a result of crisis over New PDP.”

     

  • Alhassan on rescue mission at Bees

    Newly appointed Ranchers Bees coach, Julius Jatau Alhassan has said his agenda at the Kaduna-based side is to rescue the team from going on relegation.

    Alhassan took over the mantle of leadership barely eight days ago after the former helmsman, Taiye Yusuf linked up with the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) FC side. He has been able to grab his first win in charge against FC Abuja on Matchday 16 of the NNL.

    The former Kaduna United coach said the lure to the side was not for financial gain but the drive to assist the proprietor on his good gesture for the side.

    “I’m on a rescue mission at Ranchers Bees. At the end of the first round nobody was happy with the position of the team on the log. Their former coach’s departure to JUTH FC gave room for my coming to the side.

    “I appreciate what the owner is doing for the team and that was the attraction and not money but to render service and help the team from going down on relegation. We may not win the league but we must not go down. We must finish the season respectfully.

    “We’ve already tried some players, hopefully by next Wednesday we’ll be recruiting about eight of them to strengthen the side. Once that’s done I’m sure things will start to look up for the team,” said the former Gray International FC coach to supersport.com.

    Ranchers will be guests of Niger Tornadoes on Matchday 17 at the Bako Kontagora Stadium, Minna on Saturday and the coach is confident of extending the winning streak at the Minna-based side.

    “I’ve charged the players to believe in themselves and not consider names but go there and fight for points. Our build-up to the game is fine, we just won the state Challenge Cup game against Zaria-based side, Nasara FC. We’re poised to extend the winning aura to Tornadoes,” he said.

    Ranchers Bees have garnered 22 points from a total of 48.