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Tag: All Progressives Congress (APC)

  • Appeal Court affirms Agoda as APC candidate for Ethiope federal constituency

    The Court of Appeal has affirmed that former member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Halims Agoda is the validly nominated candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for Ethiope Federal Constituency of Delta state in the recently concluded general elections.

    In a unanimous judgement, the Benin division of the court held that the Federal High Court sitting in Asaba was right when it held that Chief Solomon Edojah whose name was forwarded to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the candidate of the party was not validly nominated.

    In the lead judgement delivered by Justice Moore Asiemo Abraham Adumein dismissed the appeal with a N250, 000 cost against the appellant in favour of Agoda.

    Edojah had challenged the suit brought before the High Court by Agoda, alleging the petition was filed out of the stipulated time and therefore status barred, but the suit was dismissed by the lower court as incompetent.

    Delivering judgement on the Appeal, Justice Adumein said even though the party primary was conducted on the 5th of October, 2018, the issue for determination before the court and for which time frame for filing a petition before the court occurred on October 18, 2018 when the Agoda was denied his right to participate in the general election by the APC when it submitted the name of Solomon Edojah to INEC as its candidate.

    Agoda had told the court that he won the primary election conducted by the party and that even though the results of the primary was submitted to the party, it went ahead to substitute his name despite winning an appeal against the decision of the party.

    Read Also: APC to tribunal: Atiku not Nigerian by birth

    The judge said: “It should be noted that by section 285(9) of the 1999 constitution as amended, it is the date of the occurrence of the event, decision or action complained of in the suit that will determine when the cause of action accrues. In this context, since there are an amorphous variety of circumstances, fact and situations, each case ought to be considered and determined within the peculiarity of its own circumstances.”

    He also held that the lower court was right for not calling oral evidence to determine the actual winner of the primary as a result of conflicting affidavit and counter affidavit, adding that the statement deposed to by the Independent National Electoral Commission already put the issue to rest.

    While agreeing with the lead judgemet, Justice helen Moronkeji Ogunwumiju said: “I share the same view and agree with the reasoning and conclusion that the appeal be dismissed as lacking in merit. I will add a few word.

    “The cause of action in a case crystallises when all the aggregates of facts which delineate and constitute the complaints are present. Thus, the cause of action becomes completes so that the aggrieved parties can begin to maintain his cause of action”.

    Also, Justice Tunde Oyebamiji Awotoye also agreed with the lead judgement dismissing the appeal and the order as to cost.

  • Bauchi governor-elect, PDP assemble five SANs, 60 other lawyers in defense of mandate

    The Bauchi Governor-Elect, Sen. Bala Mohammed, yesterday disclosed that his party, the Peoples Democratic Party in the state will engage the services of 5 Senior Advocates of Nigeria, (SANs), 10 other senior lawyers and 50 indigenous lawyers from Bauchi in defense of his mandate at the election petition tribunal.

    The disclosure followed the petition filed yesterday by the outgoing governor, Mohammad Abubakar, and the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bauchi State challenging his victory in court at the last governorship election.

    Addressing journalists shortly after the submission of the petition yesterday at the tribunal, the APC Chairman, Uba Ahmed Nana, said   Abubakar, the gubernatorial candidate of the party at the last election, is seeking justice from the court.

    The governor-elect however noted that though his party is yet to be served a copy of the petition; it is readily prepared to tackle Governor Abubakar and the APC in the foreseeable judicial contest.

    READ ALSO: Bauchi governor to initiate bill for creation of new districts   

    Addressing newsmen at the Command Guest House in Bauchi, while receiving the group known as the Body of Bauchi Lawyers of Conscience who earlier volunteered to mobilise 50 lawyers in his defense, Mohammed said “The issue of APC taking me to the tribunal is a normal thing; that is why it is provided for in the Electoral Act. I want to use this opportunity to thank my supporters and the people of Bauchi for their show of patience. The petition is nothing to worry about because we have taken necessary measures.”

    “Though we have not been served, once we are served and we see the details, we are going to respond.

    “We are also going to engage our lawyers, about five Senior Advocates of Nigeria, about ten other senior lawyers and 50 Bauchi indigenous lawyers. That is to say the APC petition at the tribunal is dead on arrival due to the support of the Body of Bauchi Lawyers of Conscience (BOBALAC),” he said.

    Mohammed while accepting the offer of BOBOLAC to be part of his legal team said he is highly privileged to be rendered such services by the lawyers of conscience and quality.

  • Communication minister vows to appeal judgment against APC

    The Minister of Communication, Adebayo Shittu, has vowed to appeal against the high court judgment which struck out the suit he filed against the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The Minister had dragged the party to court for barring him from participating in the governorship primary due to his non-participation in the mandatory one-year national service of the National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) after he graduated from the university.

    The Federal High Court, Ibadan, on Friday, struck out the suit for filing it after the expiration of the 14 days stipulated by the law.

    But shittu, who phoned into Southwest Political Circuit, a Fresh FM programme, revealed that he had already instructed his lawyers to appeal the judgment.

    He said the APC constitution prescribes that aggrieved members must fully explore all internal crisis resolution mechanism before going to court which accounted for why he could not challenge the party’s decision in court within the stipulated time.

    READ ALSO: Fayemi’s new cabinet is robust, says Ondo APC

    According to him, his lawyers would prove all that at the appellate court.

    He expressed confidence of winning the case because the constitution does not list possession of NYSC certificate as a requirement for contesting as governor.

    He said the party was misguided into taking a wrong decision which the court will correct.

    Shittu, who is also a member of the break-away group from the APC in Oyo State, Unity Forum, insisted that all members of the group were still in the APC even though they are officially in the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

    “They are in APC, you will have to show me when they resigned their membership of APC, “ he said.

    The minister also expressed confidence that President Muhammadu Buhari would reappoint him, saying Buhari would not appoint “failed politicians.”

  • Fayemi’s new cabinet is robust, says Ondo APC

    The Ondo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress(APC)  on Saturday hailed the composition of the new cabinet of Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, saying it is made up of people of high integrity.

    The party’s  Director of Media and Publicity ,Steve Otaloro  noted that the coming on board of new commissioners in a record time,confirmed the commitment of Fayemi as a true democratic to regain the lost glory of Ekiti State.

    “ Everyone can attest to your faithfulness to develop your home state socially and economically and to evolve a lasting solution  to its political problems,” Otaloro said.

    Read Also: Fayemi approves renovation of secretariat

    “ With your past history of the struggle to achieve an inclusive and a democratic constitutional,we shall continue to work with you and support the people and the government in an effort to bring honour and pride to Ekiti State”.

    Ondo APC also acknowledged Fayemi’s sterling performance since assumption of office as  noteworthy and praiseworthy, urging him not to relent.

  • Rivers dispute: Supreme Court seals APC’s fate, rejects its three appeals

    The local chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State lost its last legal battles at the Supreme Court, which stuck out the three appeals filed by the party, its governorship candidate Tonye Cole and one of its factions.

    The appeals were against the judgment that excluded the APC from fielding candidates in the last elections.

    A seven-man panel of the apex court, led by Justice Ibrahim Muhammad, held that the three appeals were defective, incompetent and could not be heard by the court.

    The appeals were: SC/295/ 2019 filed by APC, with People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) listed among respondents; SC/266/2019 filed by APC, with Magnus Abe and others as respondents and SC/267/2019 filed by Tonye Patrick Cole, with Magnus Abe and others as respondents.

    Justice Muhammad, in the first ruling delivered on SC/295/2019, upheld that argument by PDP’s lawyer Emmanuel Ukala’s argument that the notice of appeal filed by the APC was defective. Ukala is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).

    Read Also: Ekiti community seeks implementation of S’Court judgement

    The judge noted that, rather than heading a portion of the notice of appeals “Reliefs sought from the Supreme Court” it was wrongly headed “Reliefs sought from the Court of Appeal”.

    He said the implication of that error was that the appellant did not seek any relief from the Supreme Court, and, thereby, contravened the court’s rules, particularly Order 8 Rule 2, a development that rendered the appeal incompetent.

    The same errors were noticed in the other two appeals, which made the appellants’ lawyers, Jibrin Okutepa (SAN) and Tuduru Ede to withdraw both appeals, following which the court struck them out.

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had, based on a judgment of a Rivers State High Court, which was upheld by the Court of Appeal, excluded candidates of the Rivers APC from its last elections.

    By the three appeals, the APC had sought a consolidation of all existing appeals relating to the dispute over the primary elections held in the state; the voiding of the judgment on which INEC acted and the recognition of Cole and others as the party’s actual candidates.

    Cole (APC governorship candidate) and others had emerged from the primary conducted by a faction of the party, which the Senator Magnus Abe faction objected to.

    When the first appeal was called, Okutepa, for the appellant, adopted his client’s brief of argument and urged the court to allow the appeal.

    The senior advocate urged the court to set aside the judgment of the Court of Appeal, which described the appeal by the APC against the judgment of the trial court as a mere academic exercise.

    He urged the court to invoke it powers under Section 22 of the Supreme Court Act to hear and determine this issue on its merit and grant the reliefs the Court of Appeal failed to grant.

    Ukala urged the court to dismiss the appeal for being unmeritorious and uphold his preliminary objection.

    Ukala, arguing his preliminary objection, referred the court to page 1768, volume 3 of the records of appeal and argued that the reliefs sought by the appellant, as contained in the page, are not grantable by this court.

    He noted:  ”All the reliefs it (the appellant) sought can only be granted by the Court of Appeal, because it is directed at that court. In this instance, there are no valid reliefs before this court.”

    Ukala, who argued that the error noted in the notice of appeal was fatal to the appeal, said it breached Order 2 Rule 8 and Order 8 Rule 2 of the Supreme Court’s Rules.

    He argued that, by asking the court to invoke Section 22 of the Supreme Court Act to determine the case on the merit and set aside the judgment in the suit marked: PHC/78/2018, the appellant wants the court to overrule itself.

    Ukala contended that the court had, in its earlier decisions in cases relating to the Rivers APC dispute, given effect to the High Court’s judgment PHC/78/2018.

    He identified some of the cases in which the court had given its decisions to include appeals marked:  SC/1333/19, SC/1332/19, SC/1334/19 and SC/81/19.

    Ukala argued that the court cannot overrule its previous decisions, particularly as it relates to the decision in PHC/78/2018.

    Don Umealor, who represented INEC, said his client did not file any process in the appeal, adding that he wished to remain neutral.

    Replying on point of law, Okutepa argued that the use of the words “Reliefs sought from the Court of Appeal,” should be regarded as mere typographical error, which cannot affect the reliefs sought as set out in Para 4a to d in the notice of appeal.

    Okutepa cited the case of Surakatu v. Nigerian Housing Development Society Ltd, 1981 4 SC pg 18, which he said, supports his position that he error in his notice could pass as a mere typographical error, which the court could overlook.

    He said: “I submit that this appeal is before this court, and the same should be treated as mere irregularity.”

    The court upheld Ukala’s argument  that the reliefs were directed at the Court of Appeal and, therefore, incompetent.

    Justice Muhammad, in the lead ruling, said the Supreme Court’s decision in the case of Surakatu v. Nigerian Housing Development Society Ltd, 1981 4 SC in page 18 cannot apply.

    Other members of the panel: Justices Olabode Rhodes-Vivour, Olukayode Ariwoola, Amiru Sanusi, Amina Augie, Paul Galumje and Uwani Abba Aji, agreed with the lead ruling by Justice Muhammad.

    At the mention of the second appeal, marked: SC/296/2019 was called, Justice Galumje drew Okutepa’s (who was the appellants’ lawyer) attention to a similar error in the notice of appeal.

    Upon confirming that a portion of the notice of appeal also read: “Reliefs sought from the Court of Appeal”, Okutepa applied to withdraw the appeal, which the court equally struck out in the absence of objection from lawyers to the respondents.

    When the third appeal, marked: SC/297/2019 was called, the appellants’ lawyer, Tuduru Ede acknowledged that his notice of appeal also had a similar error.

    He applied to withdraw the appeal, in view of the court’s disposition, as reflected in its two previous appeals.

    The court struck it out when none of the respondents’ lawyers objected to Ede’s application to withdraw the appeal.

     

  • ‘Why there is party indiscipline’

    Lagos State All Progressives Congress (APC) Governorship Advisory Council (GAC) member and Olu of Afowowa-Sogade Oba Olatunji Hamzat bagged a Honorary Doctorate Degree of Arts in Public Leadership, Peace and Community Development from the European -America University at the weekend. The event took place at the Main Auditorium, University of Lagos, Akoka. The former Transportation Commissioner and father of Lagos State Deputy Governor-elect Dr. Obafemi Hamzat spoke with Group Political Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU on the imperative of party supremacy, monetisation of politics and challenges that will confront the in-coming Sanwo-Olu administration in the Centre of Excellence.

    What do you want the younger generation to learn from you?

    The first thing is patience and tolerance. If you are patient you will take life very easy. What God has given to you as your destiny, you should follow it. Do not look at another man’s wristwatch to look at your own time on what you want to do. On tolerance, to live with people and live successfully, you have to be tolerant. If you are not tolerant with your wife and children, you cannot live very well. That is what I want this generation to learn from me because this is what I have given to my children too.

    How can we return to the politics of ideology, which your generation played in the Second Republic?

    It is the party themselves that have completely abandoned ideology which they stand for. Discipline is no more, they do not even award merit for those who worked. For us to return to sound party ideology we have to return to restructuring the political parties themselves to follow the part of discipline and merit in whatever they do. There are people who worked very hard for the party, but at the moment, politics to me is being monetised and it  may not allow us to get good candidates because in a situation where you want to run for the governorship of a state and you are looking for N20bn, where will you get it from? Even the habit of expecting money from politicians before they vote is a dangerous situation. Unless we try to change it, things may not work well. At the beginning of this dispensation, a lot of people showed interest to contest for elective positions, but at the end of it, they never got it. This is because they do not have money. I think we should begin to think of voting for merit and not necessarily money.

    What are the challenges that you will expect the incoming governor of Lagos State to tackle?

    The first thing is the pot holes on our streets and major roads, which I think is the major factor for traffic jam or gridlock. Every nook and cranny where you have roads in Lagos is full with potholes, they must first face that. The second is refuse disposal. The roads are not littered with refuse here and there, they must face those two challenges simultaneously so that the residents of Lagos will appreciate them.

    As an entrepreneur, what challenges did you face?

    The challenges experienced by an entrepreneur is common across board, but the new trend of fraud that has been added to business is now a major challenge. Every businessman now crave for quick riches, quick money, it was not so before. To get rich is step by step otherwise you will defraud people and land yourself in the prison within a short time.

     

  • My visit to Osinbajo not on Senate President, says Ndume

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Monday held talks with former Senate Leader Ali Ndume at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Details of their meeting were not made public but the Borno senator dismissed speculations that he was at the State House over his aspiration to become the next Senate President.

    Ndume had declared his intention to run for the number three highest political office in the land despite the endorsement of the Senate Leader Ahmed Lawan for the position in the Ninth Senate by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

    After his parley with the vice president, the senator declined to speak on camera with State House reporters.

    When asked by reporters whether he would step down, he asked rhetorically “me?”  He refused to speak further on his ambition.

    He, however, said that he was still holding consultation.

    “This is not the time to talk now because I am still holding consultation,” he stated.

    In a chat with The Nation, Ndume explained that his visit to the Presidential Villa had to do with humanitarian issues in Borno State.

    Ndume said: “My visit to the vice president has nothing to do with my ambition.  I did not discuss any political issue with him.

    “The vice president has been deeply concerned on the challenges in Borno State.  I normally get in touch with him because of humanitarian issues in our state. This was what I went to discuss with him.

    “I did not talk about my aspiration to be the next President of the Senate and the vice president also didn’t raise it.”

    Borno governor pays solidarity visit to Lawan

    Read Also: Breaking: Osinbajo, Ndume meet in Aso Rock

    Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima paid a solidarity visit to the Senate Leader, Dr. Ahmad Lawan, who who has signaled interest to become the next Senate President.

    The visit dispelled insinuations that the governor hurriedly left for Saudi Arabia to avoid receiving Lawan last Saturday.

    According to a source, the governor’s visit boosted the morale of Lawan’s camp because one of the aspirants for the office, Sen. Ali Ndume also hails from the Northeast state.

    The source said: “The governor, who is also a Senator-elect, was at the campaign secretariat of Lawan to show some solidarity.

    “Lawan and leaders in his campaign group went for a wedding on Saturday in Maiduguri but the governor was alleged to have sneaked out of the state to Saudi Arabia in order not to receive the team.

    “But the governor dispelled rumours of shunning Lawan. His presence changed the mood at our campaign secretariat.

    “We were happy that the governor has demonstrated that he is true party leader. This is a plus for us because one of the contestants, Sen. Ali Ndume is from Borno State.

    “So far, Lawan has met virtually all the senators across party lines. We are making substantial progress.”

  • PDP blackmailing Supreme Court, APC alleges

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) on Monday accused the main opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) of making frantic efforts to blackmail the Supreme Court over the exclusion of APC candidates from the just concluded elections in Rivers state.

    The APC said contrary to the statement of the PDP, the apex court has not made any pronouncement on the exclusion of its candidates from the elections in the state, stressing the PDP should stop feeding Nigerians with fiction and concentrate on the real issues

    National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mallam Lanre Issa Onilu said in a statement made available to newsmen that the APC was a firm believer in the rule of law and will allow the rule take its course and asked the PDP to do same.

    The statement reads: “We read with dismay the nonsensical statement by the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) against the All Progressives Congress (APC) and two senior serving cabinet members – Minister of Transport, Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN).

    Read Also: Oyo APC will bounce back, says Ajimobi’s wife

    “While the APC has no intention to join issues with the PDP over its fictional and concocted allegations against the party and its leaders, we are however well aware of the PDP’s intent to hoodwink and deceive the public; and most importantly, intimidate and blackmail our eminent Supreme Court Justices into doing their bidding in respect of the matter of the purported exclusion of Rivers State APC candidates from the last elections, before the apex court.

    “Again, for the purpose of clarity, it needs restating that the Supreme Court has not made any pronouncement on the purported exclusion of APC candidates from the just concluded Governorship, National Assembly and State Assembly elections in Rivers State.

    “Hence, the cheap attempt by the PDP to ambush the Supreme Court with their cock and bull conspiracies should be seen for what it is, hogwash!

    “We urge Nigerians to completely ignore the evil machinations of the PDP as contained in their ludicrous and false statement on the matter of the purported exclusion of Rivers APC candidates in the last elections before the Supreme Court. The PDP as a party has refused to come to terms with the fact that the President Muhammadu Buhari-led APC administration is a stickler to the rule of law.

    “As always, we shall allow the law takes its course in respect of the purported exclusion of our candidates in the elections in Rivers State and we advise the PDP to do the same, rather than overheat the polity with their illogical and false claims.”

     

     

  • Tears as Bayelsa community buries slain APC supporter

    Tears flowed at the weekend in Nembe-Basambiri, Nembe Local Government Area Bayelsa State following the burial of 26-year-old supporter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Kenneth Adebo, who was shot dead on the eve of the Presidential and National Assembly elections.

    Adebo was killed by thugs suspected to be members of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in an electoral violence that erupted in the community.

    Speaking in an emotion-laden tone, the father of the deceased, Mr. Francis Adebo, who could not hold back his tears said it was painful to lose his son in such circumstance.

    The bereaved father said: “What do you want me to say? Is my son still alive? Why my son? I believe that my son died for a course. He sacrificed his life for a course.

    “He has been buried. I don’t have anything to say. If I open my mouth, I will say things I don’t want to say. Please let me be”.

    Also speaking, the Youth President of Nembe Basambiri, Iro Theo described the death of Kenneth Adebo as a great loss to the entire youths of Nembe Federation and Bayelsa.

    He said: “Today, we came to bury Mr. Kenneth Adebo who was shot by PDP thugs on the 29th of March, eve of the presidential and national assembly elections here in Nembe Basambiri.

    “What happened is that some people tried to hijack electoral materials on the eve of the election and the youths of the community protested that the materials should not be hijacked, that the materials should be given back to INEC so that the following day, everybody can go and vote the candidate of their choice. It was during the resistance that this happened”.

    Describing the late Kenneth as a humble gentleman, the youth president said the family and the entire community would greatly miss him.

    Read Also: Bayelsa election tribunal begins sitting in Yenagoa

    Speaking further, Theo said: “Personally, I will miss him so much because I have worked with him. He was a kind, gentle and likable young man.

    “I want justice to be done on those who killed Kenneth. Those who killed Kenneth should be arrested and prosecuted. The police know what to do. They should not be biased.

    “If the police show bias in this case, nature will catch up with them. I know that those who killed Kenneth will not have rest of mind. They will be hunted for the rest of their days”.

    Also speaking, a female indigene of the community, Mrs. Favour Emmanuel, who described the death of Kenneth as shocking and painful, said they were in the community to show their last respect.

    “Kenneth was a very calm, cool-headed guy. The most painful part of his death is that his wife was carrying about four months pregnancy before he was killed.

    ‘’It’s a pity that he just died that way. He was good looking, handsome and hard-working”, she recounted.

  • Why APC lawmakers will toe party line, by Ekiti member-elect

    The caucus of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the House of Representatives will not go against the decision of the party leadership on power sharing between the six geo-political zones, Yemi Adaramodu has said.

    Adaramodu spoke in Abuja at the ongoing induction programmes for newly elected members of the National Assembly   where he said the ninth Assembly would not experience the mistake of the outgoing Assembly because the conditions of the two periods are different.

    Adaramodu, was Chief of Staff to the Governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi between 2010 and 2014 explained that the party has learnt a lot of lessons from the emergence of the outgoing leadership of the National Assembly.

    He said: “I am very confident that we will not have a repeat of the past on the emergence of the leadership of the National Assembly this time around.

    “It is whatever the party leadership says that all of us will abide by. It is the party that has the mandate and chooses us to hold the mandate on their behalf, so it definitely where they are going that we will go.

    “Though in politics, you hear stories and nobody has ever come out either privately or publicly that wherever APC is going, I will not go there from within APC.

    “So everything is conjectural and I want to take it like that. So our party is very supreme and for me like others, it is dictate of the party that we will follow”.

    Adaramodu said more than ever before, lawmakers have reasons not gogainstbthe party decision on the sharing formula, adding, “APC has evolved from members  that see themselves from the prism of the groups they came from to firm APC.

    “It was the fixation to the former parties by those members  that led to the clamour for position which eventually led to where we found ourselves today.

    “However since then, almost four year later, the party has metamorphosed and we have all come to identify with the party, leaving  where we came from behind us.

    “Another critical factor is, we have come to realise that it is pertinent to subject ourselves to party discipline and supremacy because it is the party’s platform we all used to project our aspirations for elective offices.

    “None of us, no matter how powerful or big or handsome  has his photographs on the ballot papers while we were contesting, it was the party’s symbol that was there.

    Read Also: APC will reclaim all ‘stolen’ mandates

    “Moreover, unlike before, the leadership of the party really took matters of candidates very seriously this time.

    “Periodically, at intervals before adjourning the election, they were always in contact with us, asking after our welfare and challenges and giving us the encouragement we needed.

    “That really counted for something.

    “For these reasons, everyone of us will subject ourselves to the party and it’s decisions”.

    According to the lawmaker from  Ekiti South West/Ikere/Ise/Orun Federal constituency, members of the party in the House are ready to resist scheming from the opposition to wrest control of the House from APC by staying true to the logo of the party.

    Saying that scheming to manipulate new members by the opposition would not succeed, the lawmaker added, “A stick of broom cannot sweep, that is why the bunch can achieve much more by being together, even at that the bunch can not achieve much without the rope that ties it.

    “That is why we are determined to be united and not allow cracks within our rank. This is what will assist us in deploying strategies to win over members from other parties,” he added.