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  • Tinubu, leading light of progressive politics-Fayemi

    Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, has described National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as a leading light of progressive politics, a fact which his critics usually acknowledge.

    Fayemi, in a personal tribute on the 67th birthday of the former Lagos governor, stated his legacies in the realm of politics and human development remain a reference point.

    He said Tinubu stands tall among the progeny of progressive politics.

    The governor, who recalled his working relationship with the former NADECO chieftain, said Tinubu remains a dependable, reliable and passionate leader, whose record of grooming successful disciples is unmatchable.

    A statement by Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Yinka Oyebode to the governor said Asiwaju Tinubu remains one of the country’s most resourceful politicians.

    He added that his exemplary leadership style have brought unparralled development and growth to the nation.

    “I celebrate you today as always because you have been a reliable, dependable and passionate leader.

    ‘’The hallmark of a great leader is not measured in castles and materials, but in his ability to groom and lead successful disciples.

    “Like a colossus in the jungle of life, your ability to identify, nurture and engage talents is unequalled.

    “Your life has been a testimony of human capital development in an unrelenting struggle for a better life.

    ‘’Even your political detractors secretly admire your courage, vibrancy, intelligence, ebullience, kind-heartedness, warmth and sagacity.

    READ ALSO: Afenifere hails Fayemi over role in general elections

    “I will forever cherish the memory of our struggles for the enthronement and sustenance of democracy and good governance in Nigeria.

    ‘’Your infectious smile, as we have witnessed together on a number of occasions, is disarming.

    ‘’You have, over the years, succeeded in constantly reinventing yourself as a leading light of progressive politics.

    “You mean different things to different people. To some, you are a patriotic politician, while to others you are a political strategist who loves challenging the powers-that-be as a result of your passion and desire to see that your people are not deprived of their rights at any time.”

    He added: “You might not be the darling of all, but you have carved a niche for yourself in the political history of Nigeria.

    “May providence reward your labour of love with long life in good health, unspeakable joy and everlasting bliss.

    “On behalf of the government and good people of Ekiti State, I wish you the best of what your new year can offer. Above all, I wish you many more useful and productive years.”

  • Breaking: Appeal Court delivers judgment in Ekiti gov dispute tonight

    Parties to the dispute over the last governorship election in Ekiti State have besieged the Court of Appeal in Abuja in anticipation of the outcome of the judgment in the case, scheduled for tonight.

    The Ekiti State Election Tribunal, which later sat in Abuja owing problem of insecurity in Ekiti, delivered judgment on January 28, affirming the victory of Kayode Fayemi of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the election.

    Read Also: Four injured, motorcycles burnt in Ekiti tanker accident

    The petitioners – the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate in the election, Kolapo Olusola – against whom the judgment went, appealed.

    The appeal was heard on Monday and judgment reserved.

    The Nation learnt that parties were informed on Wednesday that the judgment will be delivered by 6pm today.

    Supporters of both camps and their lawyers are currently waiting at the Court of Appeal, Abuja for delivery of the judgment.

  • UPDATED Osun gov, Oyetola asks Appeal Court to reverse tribunal’s decision

    Osun State Governor, Adegboyega Oyetola, who contested the last governorship election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has asked the Court of Appeal in Abuja to reverse the majority judgment given on March 22 by the Osun State election tribunal.

    The tribunal had, by a majority judgment given by two of its three members, voided the election of Oyetola, pronounced Ademola Adeleke of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) winner.

    It then asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC to issue him a certificate of return.

    In a 39-ground notice of appeal filed on March 26, 2019 by his team of lawyers, led by Wole Olanipekun (SAN), Oyetola faulted the majority judgment, given by Justices Peter Obiora and Anyinla Gbolagunte, on the grounds that it was perverse, replete with contradictions and not supported by evidence led by the petitioners.

    Oyetola wants the Court of Appeal to uphold his appeal, set aside the majority judgment and dismiss the October 16, 2018 petition by PDP and Adeleke.

    The governor said his complaint, in the appeal, was against the entire majority judgment, except where the tribunal held that it lacked jurisdiction to set aside INEC Guidelines; that the allegation of over voting was not proved; that the petitioners did not prove voided votes and other parts of the judgment where the tribunal agreed with their arguments.

    Oyetola is contending, in his first ground of appeal, that the entire of the majority judgment is a nullity because it was written and delivered by Justice Obiora “who did not participate in all the proceedings of the tribunal and who was not present when all the witnesses gave evidence.”

    He noted that Justice Obiora was absent on February 6 when the respondents witnesses (RWs) 12 and 13 – Ayoola Soji and Oladejo Kazeem – testified and tendered exhibits, which the tribunal admitted in evidence.

    The appellant argued that, having not attended the tribunal’s siting on February 6, 2019, Justice Obiora could not see the two witnesses and was unable to examine their demeanour, as required, and therefore, unlawful for the judge to have authored a judgment in which he reviewed the evidence given by the witnesses.

    He said: “The writing of and or the participation of the Honourable Justice P. C. Obiora in the writing of the judgment of the lower tribunal of 22nd March 2019 and delivery of same, vitiates the entire judgment.”

    Oyetola also argued the tribunal, in its majority judgment, erred in law and acted without jurisdiction when it accepted the petitioners’ complained of non-compliance with the provisions of Electoral Act in relation to the September 22, 2018 governorship election in Osun State and on that basis proceeded to nullify the victory of Oyetola and APC.

    It was equally the appellant’s contention the tribunal acted without jurisdiction by basing its decision to uphold the petition and set aside the return of the appellants on the basis of allegation of non-compliance with the Electoral Act, in relation to the September 22 governorship election.

    The appellant noted that, nowhere in the entire petition, did Adeleke and the PDP complained about non-compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act in relation to the September 22, 2018 election.

    He added that the only ground, in the petition, alleging non-compliance with the provision of the Electoral Act was in relation to the rerun election held on September 27, 2018.

    Oyetola noted the tribunal contradicted itself in its conclusion, in page 191 of the majority judgment, to the effect that the information omitted by the election officers in the Forms EC8A in the 17 polling units, where the tribunal voided results, were essential to proving over-voting.

    He argued that, having earlier found that accreditation is not done on Form EC8A and that same (accreditation) cannot be proved without voters’ register, the tribunal was without jurisdiction to overrule itself.

    The appellant further argued that the tribunal erred in law when it cancelled elections in 17 polling units on the mere allegation of improper ballot accounting and accreditation details.

    Read Also : Oyetola reopens three tertiary institutions

    He argued that since all the witnesses called by Adeleke and the PDP admitted that the voting process was regular; that votes scored by each party were publicly announced after counting and that the announced scores of parties were truly reflected on Forms EC8A tendered by petitioners, the tribunal was wrong to have proceeded to cancel results.

    Oyetola said: “All petitioners’ witnesses testified and admitted that petitioners were not short-changed regarding the scores recorded for them in each Form EC8A tendered, and that no addition of votes was reflected in favour of the appellants.

    “The lower tribunal had rightly found that there was no over-voting; there was no voiding of valid votes; that accreditation can only be done through voters’ register; that no single ballot paper was tended before it.

    “By cancelling of elections in 17 poling units the lower tribunal acted without jurisdiction. By deciding as aforesaid, the lower tribunal discountenanced Section 139(1) of the Electoral Act.”

  • Akume petitions Election Tribunal over Benue North-West senatorial result

    Sen. George Akume, the All Progressive Congress (APC) candidate for Benue North-West Senatorial Zone, has prayed the Governorship, National and State Assembly Election Petition Tribunal in Makurdi to declare him winner of the Feb. 23 elections.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the tribunal is expected to commence sitting in Makurdi after it has received petitions and responses from such respondents.

    Akume and the APC in their 336-paged petition obtained on Thursday from the tribunal’s secretariat in Makurdi, is challenging the decision the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that returned Mr Emmanuel Orker-Jev of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) winner of the election.

    NAN reports that Orker-Jev of the PDP polled 157,726 to Akume’s 115,422 votes.

    The petitioners in the suit (Akume and APC) in an alternative prayer, urged the court to order fresh polls where elections did not hold or were marred by malpractices or irregularities, especially in polling units within Buruku, Guma, Gboko, Gwer West and Gwer East registration areas/wards.

    The petitioners said they will rely on 118 witnesses to prosecute their case, which is premised on two grounds; that the first respondent( Mr Emmanuel Orker Jev) was not duly elected by majority of lawful votes and that the election was invalid by alleged corruption and non-compliance with Electoral Act 2010.

    They also averred that the series of letters of complaints by them to the INEC or its agents while the elections were ongoing were neglected.

    READ ALSO: Sen Akume remains my leader, says Senator-elect, Orker Jev

    “The total number of accredited voters as recorded in Forms EC8C(1), EC8D(1) and EC8(1) by INEC agents manually are higher than the accredited voters recorded in the Card Reader Accreditation Sheet for the Presidential and National Assembly Elections, held on 23rd day of February, 2019.

    “The number of votes cast in the local government areas of Buruku, Gboko, Guma, Gwer East, Gwer West, Makurdi and Tarka are higher than the number of accredited voters in each of the local government area above mentioned”.

    Akume further alleged that elections were not conducted in compliance with the Act in some parts of Bruruku, Gboko, Guma, Gwer West, Gwer East, Makurdi wards.

    “Some polling units in Buruku, Gboko, Guma, Gwer East, Gwer West, the total number of votes cast at the election far exceeded the total number of the PVCs collected by voters in those polling units and registration areas.”

    The petitioners also alleged that Mr Mike Gusa, the Benue Commissioner for Justice, was buying votes on the Election Day at Tse-Biaga Open Space polling unit between N500 to N1,000 with the aid of thugs, which were answerable to him and the PDP.

  • PDP to APC: rig election, risk people’s wrath

    THE People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has cautioned the All Progressives Congress (APC) against any attempt to rig the governorship supplementary election holding today in some polling units in the Adamawa State.

    A statement yesterday by the PDP spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan, warned that whoever toys with the idea of rigging the poll would be doing so at their own peril.

    The main opposition party said it’s in possession of details of how the APC allegedly hired thugs and miscreants from other states with instructions to cause confusion, invade polling units, disrupt the electoral process, snatch ballot boxes, engage in ballot stuffing and assist the APC to allocate votes for its candidate.

    Read also: Atiku, PDP get tribunal’s nod to serve Buhari through APC

    Accusing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and some security agents of compromise, the PDP also alleged that the APC had already cloned Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) for the purpose of manipulating the process.

    The statement warned that the APC would not be allowed to stage a repeat performance of what the governing party did with the Kano supplementary election in Adamawa.

    “The party, therefore, directs our teeming members and supporters to come out en-masse to vote and defend their votes from the polling unit to collation and the final announcement of results,” the PDP said

  • Senate president: Buhari, APC leaders pacify Goje

    LEADERS of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have moved fast to nip in the bud any disaffection on Senate Leader Ahmad Lawan’s choice for Senate President.

    President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday met with one of the leading contenders for the job, Sen. Danjuma Goje.

    Besides, top APC leaders, senators and senators-elect have held series of meetings with Goje to prevent him from being “hijacked” by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    It was learnt that Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima and Lawan’s supporters met another aspirant, Sen. Ali Ndume, to prevail on him to accept Lawan.

    Parliamentary Support Group Chairman Sen. Abdullahi Adamu, who wanted to be Senate president, is backing the President and the APC on the candidature of Lawan.

    The President, APC governors and party leaders have spent the last 24 hours clearing the intrigues surrounding Lawan’s recommendation for the job.

    It was gathered that the President personally coordinated the initiative to keep the party’s caucus in the Senate united ahead of the inauguration of the 9th National Assembly in June.

    Eleven meetings have been held between Tuesday and yesterday to reduce tension among APC senators-elect, The Nation learnt.

    A source, who spoke in confidence, said: “We are getting closer to an amicable resolution of all issues/ grievances on the recommendation of Lawan. There have been meetings in the last 24 hours on the need to respect the wishes of the President and APC.

    “As the leader of the party, the President has been in charge of the initiative. He has had audience with Goje on why Lawan was picked and the need for all stakeholders to work with him.

    “Some APC governors, top leaders of the party and senators-elect have also reached out to Goje. We want to avoid any rancour in the party and reduce tension. We know the PDP is waiting in the wing for any slip but we won’t allow it.

    “We will come out with power-sharing formula in a way that all stakeholders, including Senate presidential aspirants, will be fully integrated.”

    A senator-elect from the Northcentral said: “When some of us met with Goje, he simply said: ‘If that is what the President wants, I will not drag it. As at this stage, I cannot afford any crisis.’ He is so patriotic about it.”

    Regarding Sen. Adamu, a senator-elect from Northcentral said: “The former governor has really keyed into Lawan’s project.”

    Read also: APC: why we picked Lawan for Senate President

    But a rapprochement could not be fostered with Ndume who left Abuja on Tuesday for his Borno State home.

    A senator-elect from the Northwest added: “Sen. Ndume is away; we are expecting him back on Thursday. But Lawan’s strategists have raised a team to meet with him on why the President and APC took the decision on the Senate presidency.

    “In fact, Governor Kashim Shettima has volunteered to discuss with Ndume to allow the choice of Lawan.”

    The APC is battling to keep its members united to avoid a repeat of the situation of 2015 as being allegedly plotted by PDP.

    “We will not allow the opposition to break our rank this time around. It is a global convention that the party that has more members in the parliament will produce the leadership.

    “We have the majority; we will not succumb to the tyranny of the minority this time around,” a source said, adding: “Notwithstanding, we will extend the olive branch to PDP senators-elect. We are also talking to them to come on board.”

  • Tinubu is pillar of democracy, says Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari has described All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwart Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as a pillars of democracy.

    The accolade was contained in felicitations the President sent to the former Lagos State governor on the occasion of his 67th birthday.

    A Colloquium tagged: “The 11th Bola Tinubu Colloquium”, is billed for today at the International Conference Centre (ICC) in Abuja.

    It is to commemorate Tinubu’s birthday.

    President Buhari will chair the colloquium that has its theme as “Next Level Work for People.”

    In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, the President described Tinubu as one of the strong pillars of Nigeria’s democracy.

    He joined the APC family in celebrating the Asiwaju of Lagos, who is also the Jagaban of Borgu Kingdom in Niger State, for his selflessness in serving the country, and making life better for many.

    The President recalled some of the sacrifices of the party chieftain to include, standing up against injustice in 1993 when the June 12 elections were annulled, which led to his going on political exile for many years, and a protracted legal battle with the Federal Government when funds for Lagos councils were withheld.

    The statement reads: “President Buhari affirmed that Asiwaju’s uncompromising posture in the face of injustice and refusal to follow the path of least resistance for personal gains stand him out today as a rare breed and one of the cornerstones of Nigeria’s democracy, especially with his track record of persistence, consistency and effective leadership.

    Read also: Tinubu as reactionaries’ nightmare

    “As the father of modern Lagos State, the President commended the visionary and inclusive leadership style that the Asiwaju provided for the commercial nerve centre of Nigeria for eight years, laying the foundation for a modern and technologically driven city, and ensuring that every successive leader in the state sticks with the masterplan of a greater Lagos.

    President Buhari rejoiced with family members, friends, political and business associates of the Jagaban on this auspicious milestone, which is further brightened with the many successes recorded at the recently concluded polls by his strong leadership.

    “The President believed the best years of the APC National Leader are still ahead, praying that the almighty God will grant him longer life, good health and more wisdom to keep serving the country he loves so much.”

  • Atiku, PDP get tribunal’s nod to serve Buhari through APC

    AT a pre-hearing session conducted yesterday, the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal (PEPT) acceded to the request by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate in the February 23 election, Atiku Abubakar, for permission to serve their petition on President Muhammadu Buhari through the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The PDP and Atiku, who, by their petition, are challenging Buhari’s victory at the election, applied for leave to effect service of the petition on the President on the grounds that they were having difficulty serving him.

    The three-man tribunal, after listening to Chris Uche (SAN), who moved the ex-parte motion filed by the PDP and Atiku, granted them permission to serve through substituted means.

    Justice Abdul Aboki, who led the panel, ordered that Buhari, who is listed as the second respondent to the petition, be served through any senior official or an officer of the APC at the party’s secretariat in Abuja.

    The Judge, in his lead ruling, said: “It is in the interest of justice” to grant the prayers in the petitioners’ motion.

    Three more parties have joined the PDP to challenge the outcome of the presidential election, which was one by incumbent President and candidate of the APC.

    Read also: ‘Atiku should accept election outcome’

    The parties have dropped their petitions before the PEPT in Abuja, it was learnt yesterday.

    With the one filed on March 18 by PDP and Atiku, the number of petitions against Buhari’s election have risen to four.

    One of the petitions was filed by Hope Democratic Party (HDP) and Ambrose Owuru, who claimed to be the party’s presidential candidate.

    The petition, marked: CA/PEPC/001/2019 was filed on March 7, before that of the PDP and its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, which was marked: CA/PEPC/002/2019.

    The third, marked: CA/PEPC/003/2019 was filed by the Coalition for Change (C4C) and Geff Ojinika, who claimed to be the party’s presidential candidate.

    The core contention of the authors of the third petition is that the election, held on February 23 this year, “was vitiated by substantial non-compliance with mandatory statutory provisions, which irregularity substantially affected the election, such that the 1st respondent (Buhari) was not entitled to be returned as the winner of the presidential election.”

    The fourth petition, marked: CA/PEPC/004/2019, was filed on March 19 this year by the Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM) and Pastor Aminchi Habu, listed as the party’s presidential candidate.

  • APC: why we picked Lawan for Senate President

    After picking Senator Ahmed Lawan for Senate President, the All Progressives Congress (APC) is working out a zoning formula for other positions, the party said yesterday.

    The APC said it settled for Ahmed Lawan for Senate President after wide consultations with the President and other leaders of the party, considering all options available.

    The party also said the stand of the party not to share power in the National Assembly with the PDP was borne out of the fact that it has a clear majority and does not need the PDP to run a successful government.

    APC’s National Publicity Secretary Lanre Issa-Onilu told reporters in Abuja that having settled for Lawan as Senate President, the party was working out an acceptable zoning formula for all other positions in the Senate and House of Representatives, including Speaker.

    The formula will be announced within the shortest possible time, he added.

    Issa-Onilu said the party will not allow what happened in 2015 to repeat itself, adding that what the leadership of the Eight Senate did was treachery and not democracy. All members with ambition are expected to situate such ambition within the larger interest of the party and the nation, he said.

    Lawan’s choice was based on a wide consultation with senators-elect, governors, members of the National Working Committee, leaders of the party across the country and the President. It was presented to the senators and other stakeholders during its meeting at the Villa.

    The party, according to Isaa-Onilu, does not hope to see any formal election of principal officers when the Assembly is inaugurated as the party hopes to have concluded its plan to present to members acceptable candidates on a consensus basis.

    Issa-Onilu said the party considered allowing the zones to choose who should occupy the positions that will be zoned to them. “That is also an option because there is nothing that says that has to be the only option. It is one of the several options. You also know that before you arrive on an individual, we must have considered what zone he comes from,” he said, adding: “So, the party, in its own judgement, believes that we will not only zone, but go as far as to decide who from that zone is fit and proper as the Senate President.

    “You should know that from every zone, we have ranking members in the National Assembly who are eminently qualified to be Senate president. But there is only one vacancy to be filled because we don’t have two Senate presidents. In this case, considering other factors, the party took a decision.

    “When I say the party, not just the NWC, because there was a wide consultation across the country; the party leaders, governors and the President and so, it is not just Adams Oshiomhole or the NWC. That is the position of the ruling party.  So, the idea of taking the thing to the zones is an option which we have also considered before arriving at a particular individual from the  Northeast, only after we have zoned that position to the Northeast.”

    The APC spokesman insisted that the statement by the party’s National Chairman that it will not share positions with the PDP was not a threat as the country practices a presidential system of government where the winner takes all.

    He said: “It was not a threat. That is democracy. I have listened to PDP react to this and in their usual style, they exhibited crass ignorance. What we practise in Nigeria is the Presidential system of government and in a presidential system of government, it is winner takes all. Once you win, you take whatever you want. There is no room for power sharing.

    “We don’t need it because we don’t need them to run this government. We have enough members to run this government. In any case, when we were campaigning, we never told Nigerians that we were going to share power with any other party. We told them to entrust power on us fully because in the last four years, we have made good use of power and we will make better use of it in the next four years.

    “Nigerians graciously assented to that. It will be a betrayal of that trust to go ahead and start sharing power with a party, particularly the PDP that has been rejected by Nigerians.

    “We are smarting from the experience of the last four years, precisely what happened in 2015 when some traitors within the APC fold sold our birthright to an opposition party and some people now considered that as the normal thing. That action was not democratic. It was treachery and we thank God that Nigerians punished the people that were involved.

    “They have been rejected with many of them now on compulsory retirement from politics. That is the verdict of the people of this country for compromising basic democratic principles, which say that when you have majority, you have the trust of the people to form a government without conceding anything to the people they have rejected. If they had wanted PDP, they would have voted for them.

    “We pattern our presidential system along side that of the United States of America. When last did you see to the floor to elect Senate President. In their own case, the Speaker?  Any party that has the majority automatically has the Speaker.

    “What we had in the last one year when those traitors defected back to where they belong was an aberration and not democratic. It is an expression of lack of value and a commitment to personal aggrandisement and not a commitment to national interest. We should not think that it has now become the new normal. If we truly wants to practise democracy, we should consign such to the dustbin of history and never allow such to happen.

    “The problem we have had with party politics in this country is the fact that no ideology drives any political party. But APC is daring to be different. What that means is that we are progressives and the worldview of progressives includes the ideology that speaks to those values that are very important to the common people.

    “That is why most of the policies of this government has been pro-poor policies. All the social investment programmes were patterned along the world view of progressives.”

    Speaking on members who might have ambition, Issa-Onilu said: “You must know that party discipline is collateral to party supremacy. So when you begin to have interest other than the collective  of the party that present you for an election, then you are voluntering excusing yourself from that fold of that party.

    “So, what we expect of any member who has interest in anything is to work within the party structures to ensure he achieves his interest. But he may not succeed if that interest is at variance with the world view that this party shares. So, as we go to the next Senate, how it is done will be the way it will be done.

    “You have principal officers and all of them are determined by simple majority and because Nigerians have given us more than enough, we have enough to elect all our officers. We don’t need a single vote from PDP. In any case, we don’t envisage any election on that day because we are going to present our members to occupy these positions as the collective position of the party and all our members are experienced politicians who understand what this means.

    “When they get to the floor, they are going to read out the names and if the PDP so desires, they can bring a candidate up and follow that candidate with the number they have. It will be an exercise in futility for them to want to share from what Nigerians have taken from them. There are positions for minority party and the APC will not contest those position because it belongs to them.”

    He said Senator Ali Ndume’s protest against the decision of the party to adopt Lawan as the sole candidate for the position of Senate presidency was his fundamental right, adding that he must have been hit badly by the news of Lawan’s adoption.

    Onilu said: “He is only expressing his fundamental rights. But those rights were taken care on that very day you subscribed to be a member of a particular political party, in this case, the APC. That day, he signed up to abide by the position of the APC. We take what happened in the last 24 hours as how badly the news hit him.

    “He is  a human being and we are also conscious of the fact that Senator Ali Ndume is a respected member of APC, a leader in this party and he knows the right thing to do and on both sides, the right thing will be done. That also includes other members who have the same issues, but at the end of the day, party supremacy will have to take precedence. The party will also to conscious not to be found wanting and not to be seen to be breaking its own rules.

    “What happened in the national Assembly when APC members kept the national budget for seven months is a betrayal of the party  on which platform they were elected and also a betrayal of the trust of the people of this country and Nigerians have passed a verdict on them.”

    Read also: Senate president: Buhari, APC leaders pacify Goje

    He said that at the consultative meeting with Senators-elect, governors, the National Working Committee and the President, it was presented to stakeholders that the party intends to present Senator Ahmed Lawan as the next Senate President, adding that since that came out, the party has not contradicted itself.

    He said the zoning arrangement for all other positions was in the works. Just as Nigerians have been informed about our preferred candidate for the Senate position is, we will also tell the world what the zoning formula is for all other positions both in the Senate and House of Representatives. That will be done very shortly.

    On the mode of selecting the leadership, he said “It is not the party that will determine whether there will be election or not, and that’s what I said but by the time we announce one person standing in with a clear majority on the floor and anybody who says  that I object to that then that person has to come up with a candidate and back it with his number.

    “So there will be only one person being put forward and what do you have, a consensus. Even if there is going to be an election, it is going to be an exercise in fulfilling all righteousness. That’s what I am referring to. We don’t envisage a situation where two APC senators will stand as candidates for a position. And that is if the APC has not done his homework. That is the essence of the majority we have and that is the practice in a proper presidential system of government.”

  • We were all consulted, says Senate spokesman

    The last may not have been heard about the endorsement of Senator Ahmed Lawan for Senate President by the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Spokesman for the “Ahmed Lawan for Senate President Group of Senators, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, told reporters in Abuja yesterday that APC senators-elect were carried along in the adoption of Lawan for the position.

    Abdullahi’s explanation contradicted that of Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, who claimed that the announcement of the adoption of Lawan by the APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, came to senators-elect as a shock.

    The party chair announced the party’s position on Monday at a dinner attended by the APC senators-elect with President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House.

    Although Abdullahi did not mention Ndume, he was categorical that “it is not good for somebody to peddle lies.”

    He added that when Oshiomhole announced the adoption of Lawan as the party’s choice for the Senate President of the Ninth Senate, the party chairman spoke in the presence of some governors, including those of Oyo, Kebbi and Borno states.

    Abdullahi, who doubles as the Chairman, Senate Committee on Media & Public Affairs, quoted Oshiomhole to have appealed to them to support Lawan to avoid the mistake of the past.

    “Immediately he said that, there was instantaneous and spontaneous applause by senators who were there. For somebody to say there was surprise and shock following the announcement, he was economical with the truth. There was no shock, rather there was relief,” Abdullahi said.

    Abdullahi who said that the APC has learnt its lesson from the mistake of 2015 when Dr. Bukola Saraki became the Senate President against the directive of the party, assured that there would be no such crisis this time around.

    According to him, there was no clear directive by the party in 2015, prompting senators to go their different ways in the chamber.

    The APC, he said, has a great role to play in who becomes the Senate President.

    He said: “If the party has promised Nigerians good governance, it is only fair and proper for the party to play some role to deliver that good governance. For me, we have learnt our lessons from whatever happened in 2015.

    “Even when I’m walking on the street, people say please you people should make sure you learn from your past mistakes. As far as I’m concerned, we have unity of purpose.

    “We the senators-elect, we have made a choice. We have the right to say this is who we want. Our choice is Ahmed Lawan. Do you expect that Mr. President and the party should abdicate their responsibility? This is what they accused us of in 2015. Now they have spoken, why are you complaining?”

    He insisted that the announcement by Oshiomhole should have been enough for a genuine party loyalist to drop his ambition and toe party line.

    Abdullahi said there was no doubt that Nigerians would be the best for the emergence of Lawan.

    “It is not good for you to have bills that are not assented to,” he said.

    He said that on the day of inauguration of the Ninth Senate in June, by the grace of God, Ahmed Lawan will be Senate President.

    On alleged winner-take-all posture of the APC, he said that it does not necessarily mean that the party’s senators would take all positions in the Senate.

    The position of the party chairman on the issue, he said, was that the majority would have its way while the minority will have its say but the two must co-exist

    Abdullahi, who said they had been engaging the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senators-elect, noted that contrary to insinuation, the PDP senators-elect were not interested in any fight.

    On the slot of Deputy Senate President, he noted that the party has the responsibility to zone positions.

    Abdullahi said: “One thing I know and which is certain is that the party has zoned the Senate President to the Northeast. As for Deputy Senate President, I don’t know; the party will decide. When the party decides, there will be no dissent. If you dissent, it will be like a fly that wants to follow the corpse to the grave.

    “I won’t come here and start boasting about number but I want to tell you that on that very day. The party is responsible for zoning and the senate presidency has been zoned to the Northeast.

    “I don’t have the idea on what the party is doing on the position of deputy senate presidency. The party will ensure that a senator from each of the geopolitical zone benefit from the leadership positions, that is, two presiding officers and the four principal officers.

    Read also: APC: why we picked Lawan for Senate President

    “Let me tell you very clearly that we have been engaging our colleagues in the PDP and I will tell you that majority of them are actually working for us to see that we have a harmonious, rancour-free and non-tumultuous senate.

    “They are right by doing so because they are mandated by their people to come and represent them and to take dividend of democracy home not to take victories of fight on the floor home.

    “Fighting on the floor of the Senate cannot translate to dividends of democracy because the people want to see the roads infrastructure, health facilities and schools that you are able to attract to their constituency.

    “The government that we are going to form is that of the APC and the chief executive will be running the policy of the party. A parliamentarian want his people to benefit from the dividend of democracy have to work with those who are in government.

    “Our colleagues in the PDP are not interested in any fight. We are engaging them and we are talking. They know the truth and I know that we shall work together and succeed together.”