The Nation Newspaper

Tag: APC

  • 700 APC members sue Army, DSS, police for N47.2b

    700 APC members sue Army, DSS, police for N47.2b

    ABOUT 700 members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who were allegedly arrested, detained and brutalised during the August 9, 2014 governorship election in Osun State have gone to court.

    The APC members have sued the Nigerian Army, the Nigerian Police Force and the Directorate of Security Service (DSS) for breach of their fundamental human rights.

    In the suit, filed on their behalf by their counsel, Femi Falana (SAN), the party members are claiming N47.2 billion as damages.

    The applicants include the National Publicity Secretary of APC, Alhaji Lai Mohammed; the National Legal Adviser, Dr. Muiz Banire; the Attorney General of Osun State, Mr. Wale Afolabi and the Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr. Wale Adedoyin.

    Others are the Regent of Iloko Ijesha, High Chief Sola Ogunsanya, member representing Ilesha West in the House of Assembly, Folarin Fafowora, a businessman, Chief Tijani Oladosu and many others.

    Joined as respondents/defendants in the suit are the Chief of Army staff, the Director of DSS and the Inspector General of Police (IGP).

    The claimants filed a 24-point fundamental rights enforcement applications.

    In their originating motions filed by Falana at the Federal High Court, Osogbo, Osun State, the applicants, who came from over 20 local governments, are asking the court for a declaration that their arrest and detention by officers of the respondents on August 8 and 9, 2014 is unconstitutional, illegal, null and void.

    They said it was also in violation of their fundamental right to personal liberty as guaranteed by sections 34 and 35 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 and Articles 5 and 6 of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights, Cap A9, LFN, 2004.

    They prayed the court for a declaration that the arrest and manhandling of the applicants by officers of the respondents on August 8 and 9, 2014 constitute a violation of their freedom from torture, inhuman and degrading treatment as guaranteed by Section 34 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999.

    Other prayers are for “a declaration that the prevention of the applicants from participating in the governorship election that took place on Saturday August 9, 2014 and voting for the candidate (s) of their choice is illegal and unconstitutional as it violates Articles 13(1) and 20 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act, Cap. A9, LFN 2004.

    “An order directing the respondents to pay aggravated damages/compensation in the sum of N100,000,000 to each applicant and tender public apology to each of the applicants for the aforesaid illegal and unconstitutional violations of the applicants’ fundamental rights”.

    Attached to some of the court processes were pictures of some of the applicants, showing injuries sustained while under torture allegedly in the hands of the officials of the respondents.

    Some of the applicants said they were arrested in the night preceding the election day, stripped naked and severely beaten by the officials of the respondents.

    “As they were severally detained in different places until the election was over on August 9, 2014, they were not allowed to participate in and vote for the candidates of their choices”.

    They also alleged that they were all arrested because of their membership of APC and support for Governor Rauf Aregbesola.

    Meanwhile, several Nigerians, including the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, have condemned the use of soldiers and masked security men in monitoring and conducting the election.

    The state Attorney-General, Mr. Wale Afolabi, said the use of the masked armed men “is an indication that the democratic process still has a long way to go.”

     

  • APC seeks court’s nod to inspect electoral materials

    APC seeks court’s nod to inspect electoral materials

    THE All Progressives Congress (APC) has approached the Election Petition Tribunal seeking to inspect, make copies and conduct manual and forensic examination of all the electoral materials used for the election.

    The hearing of the application filed by the party’s National Legal Adviser, Dr. Muiz Banire, Kunle Adegoke, AbdulRahman Okunade and M. A. Okunade, is slated for today.

    The party is asking the tribunal the order to inspect and conduct manual and forensic examination of the materials used in the election.

    It is also seeking the order of the tribunal to allow the ex parte motion be conducted outside the pre-hearing session of the matter.

    The party also prayed the tribunal panel to permit its agents, for purpose of defending the petition, to take certified true copies and conduct manual/physical inspection of all electoral materials to wit, Forms EC8A, EC8B, EC8C, EC8D, EC8E, EC40A, EC40B, EC40C, EC40F, EC40G, EC25, EC25B (Electoral Material Receipt), EC1A, EC60, INEC list and codes of the polling units, wards and local government areas.

    Other documents include voter registers of all the electorate, Form EC17 (oath/affirmation of neutrality), stubs of ballot papers used, used and unused ballot papers, EC25 series, all Forms EC60E, Rejected ballot papers, Tendered ballot papers and actual ballot papers recorded as spoilt.

    It is also asking for list of the polling agents in the conduct of the August 9, 2014 in Osun State governorship election, list of all ad-hoc staff engaged by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), all polling documents and materials used for the conduct of the governorship election in some local governments.

    The council areas are Atakumosa East Local Government, Atakumosa West Local Government, Ayedaade Local Government, Ayedire Local Government, Boluwaduro Local Government, Boripe Local Government, Ede North Local Government and Ede South Local Government.

    Others are Egbedore Local Government, Ejigbo Local Government, Ife Central Local Government, Ifedayo Local Government, Ife East Local Government, Ifelodun Local Government, Ife North Local Government, Ife South Local Government, Ila Local Government, Irepodun Local Government, Isokan Local Government, Iwo Local Government, Obokun Local Government, Odo-Otin Local Government and Oriade Local Government.

    The APC is also asking the tribunal to allow its forensic experts, for purpose of defending the petition, to take and inspect, by way of machine/electronic scanning, all ballot papers, which were used for the conduct of the governorship election in the local government areas.

    The party also urged the tribunal to permit handwriting and forensic experts to conduct an inspection of Forms EC8A, EC8B, EC8C, EC8D, EC8E and all forms and materials used for the conduct of the governorship election in the local government areas and other orders as the tribunal may deem fit to make in the circumstances.

    The application is supported by a 20-paragraph affidavit deposed to by Abdulrahman Okunade, a legal practitioner, as well as a written address.

    The party said it was ready to defend any petition that might be filed by any of the parties that lost the governorship election.

    The application noted: “APC requires inspection of all electoral documents and materials mentioned in the motion in order to effectively defend such petition and object to certain votes cast in a number of the polling units contained in some of the local government areas.”

     

     

     

  • ‘Fed Govt can’t ask for more security funds’

    ‘Fed Govt can’t ask for more security funds’

    House of Representatives member Hon. Muniru Hakeem represents  Osodi/Isolo Constituency, Lagos State. He spoke with Musa Odoshimokhe  on the Jonathan Administration, insecurity and issues that will shape next year’s elections.

    Can the All Progressives Congress (APC) defeat the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the next presidential election?

    We are hoping for the best, despite  the challenges we are facing now. The leadership of the APC has been up and doing. They are working towards success at the poll. They want to give Nigeria a credible leadership. This is in line with the yearning and aspirations of the people. The chance of the APC is very bright. When the parties formed the APC, the euphoria that greeted the birth of the legacy party was high. On the day the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) registered the party., joy was bold on the faces of Nigerians. The reaction was  spontaneous across the country. The people were celebrating. They believe that the APC will liberate the country from oppression, poverty, disease and ignorance. Despite the challenges  facing the APC, the party triumphed. Despite the bottlenecks,   we overcame. The party has many followers because of its populist   agenda. You could see disillusionment on the faces of the people. They are eager for change and I am very confident that the people will give us victory. That is why I am equally appealing to our members to complement the sacrifice the leadership of our party has made. We should come together like a family to defeat this fascist experiment led by the PDP.

    What are the issues that will shape the election?

    The security of life and property, which is the sole responsibility of government, is the  central issue that will guide 2015 elections. Don’t let anybody deceive you. Nigeria is in a state of war. The insurgency is affecting the country. The APC has a blue-print for security and peace. The country must have peace and security. We have to restore confidence in the people. The resolution of the security challenge is a priority. No country can make progress where there is no security. Agriculture, education and healthcare are also critical. We have to solve the  Boko Haram problem. I am sure that will be one of the issues during the election. Initially, the insecurity was limited to the Northeast. Now, it has spread to Kano, Kaduna and Abuja. It has been reported in the Southeast and  Lagos. When we fought the civil war, we were more secured in the country. The civil war was confined to a certain part of the country. But, in this case, you don’t even know when the next bomb will explode. The bomb carriers used to be men.  But,  the women have now joined the fray. So, when you look at it, the security of life and property has to be on the front burner. This government has failed. It has never been like this in Nigeria. Everybody is living in perpetual fear. Christians and Muslims can no longer pray in their places of worship without fear.

    Why is Nigeria in this terrible situation?

    Many things are responsible. The include corruption, ignorance, leadership failure, and illiteracy. When a people lack good leadership, the situation becomes chaotic. There is a saying that an idle mind is the devil’s workshop. What has the government done to improve the education sector? What efforts are being made to provide food, housing and even clothing?

     How is the National Assembly assisting the Federal Government to tackle insecurity?

    Everybody culpable in this matter. But, more culpable are those  handling the security of the country. They say they don’t have the right tools.  Government was not proactive when the Chibok girls were abducted.They did not even believe the girls were abducted. So, the response was slow. The abductors had all the time to plan, distribute and share the girls. So, by the time government was responding, it was almost late.The road to Sambisa forest does not exist in isolation. Sambisa forest is a vast land that is inhabited by people. Are we saying that nobody saw them on their way to the forest? But, because government did not believe that it happened in the first place, the country was put in a precarious situation. They said it is political. Everybody was now defending and pushing the blame. I am not surprised. The day the girls were kidnapped, the President was attending a rally in Kano State. God forbid, if my child was among them, what would I tell other kids? That their sister was kidnapped while trying to get education and government is never bothered about it? Fundamentally, I would say the government has not given good leadership.

    But, the Presidency has requested for more money to tackle insurgency…

    The Presidency is waiting for us to approve another $1 billion to tackle insurgency? The Armed Forces in the last budget got almost a N1 trillion and the situation has not improved. The budget for defence took  a chunk of the budget. We are aware that the defence sector needs money. But,   why should it be coming at a time the next budgetary session is imminent? The next budget will be submitted to the National Assembly in a couple of months. So, what are we buying? There are more questions than answers. They may want to blackmail the National Assembly with the request. Why was the proposal made when the  National Assembly went on recess? To me, it is   suspicious. This is my personal opinion. I believe the money is meant to oil the PDP machinery for 2015 elections.

     

  • Emulate Amaechi, el-Rufai urges governors

    Emulate Amaechi, el-Rufai urges governors

    All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain Mallam Nasir el-Rufai has urged governors to emulate their Rivers State counterpart, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi.

    The former Federal Capital Territory (FCT) minister described as “impressive” the “stunning performance and innovations” of the Amaechi administration.

    He spoke at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, after a tour of some projects executed by the Amaechi administration, including roads, model primary schools, primary health centres and the Dr. Obi Wali International Conference Centre.

    El-Rufai said: “Anybody coming to Rivers State to see the development projects of Amaechi will certainly make positive remarks because they have a direct impact on the people. It is right for the people to embrace such a leader, who places them first and keeps the state on the fast lane of development.

    “The visionary leadership of Amaechi is something every governor should emulate, especially his sterling qualities, to guarantee better governance for the people.

    “Amaechi is impressive and a humble servant. I have seen some model schools here that are better than some universities in this country. He is using the resources of the state well. I am proud of him. I am also proud that he is a member of our party, the APC. Every governor needs to see what he is doing to improve the people’s lives.”

    The former minister condemned “destructive criticisms” by some members of the opposition, saying Amaechi has performed impressively.

  • Oyo APC: Rally is a show of shame

    Oyo APC: Rally is a show of shame

    THE Oyo State All Progressives Congress (APC) has described the rally by the Accord Party to welcome some defectors into its fold as a show of shame.

    Its Director of Publicity and Strategy, Olawale Sadare, in a statement yesterday, said the event was a “demonstration of political naivety, failure and expiration of some political players fond of exaggerating their worth before the electorate.”

    The APC faulted the party over what it called its alleged “notoriety for parading the same set of pretenders and blackmailers as defectors from the APC.”

    The statement said the rally was designed to misinform the public and win voters’ sympathy “in a fraudulent manner” or plunge the state into another era of crisis.

    It added: “The rally was nothing but a show of shame organised by a one-man party which is bent on returning Oyo State to the era of political terrorism.

    “It (the rally) was held to celebrate some politically naive and over-zealous individuals who have penchant for sabotaging genuine and well-defined efforts to improve the quality of lives of the masses since their mantra revolves around individualism and self-aggrandisement.”

    The party urged the electorate to be wary of what it called the antics of “some self-serving individuals and shameless political players whose stock in trade is to thwart the peaceful atmosphere and provision of good governance by any progressive government.”

     

  • Ikimi leaves APC

    Ikimi leaves APC

    Former Minister of Foreign Affairs Chief Tom Ikimi has left the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State.

    He announced his resignation yesterday in a statement.

    The 70-year-old, who failed in his bid to become the APC’s national chairman, did not say which party he was going to.

    Ikomi said: “I am at the stage of critically re-examining the two dominant political parties in our country, which are the APC and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), both of which I have had close working knowledge.

    “I have not ignored other political parties, but in the light of the foregoing, I must search to ascertain where my true political friends exist. I need to be, at this time of my life, where I have friends who share a common vision with me and where my freedom, respect, honour and dignity would be guaranteed.

    “Notwithstanding my enormous contributions in the last 12 years or so to building the alternative platform, after deep thought and wide consultations, I have made the decision to withdraw my membership from the APC from today, Wednesday August 27, 2014.”

  • Joy as lawmaker empowers constituents

    Joy as lawmaker empowers constituents

    Over 1000 loyalists of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have been empowered at a Mega Empowerment Programme powered by the lawmaker representing Lagos East Senatorial District, ýSenator ‘Gbenga Ashafa.

    The event, which took place at the Iberekodo Primary School, Ibeju-Lekki, drew beneficiaries from across the 11 wards in Ibeju-Lekki Local Government area and Lekki Local Council Development Area (LCDA).

    Among the items distributed to the beneficiaries were: deep freezers, vulcanizing machines, hair dryers, barbing kits, power-generating sets and sewing machines. Financial grants were also offered 500 women members.

    Ashafa said the gesture was aimed at reducing unemployment in the society, adding: “Before now, we have done a general empowerment programme throughout the five council areas and 11 LCDAs across the district. At Epe and Eredo on March 8, 2013, over 300 women benefited. We have put place a weekly empowerment programme since March, last year, where men, women, youths and various associations received business tools and equipment.

    “This is our own effort to ensure that unemployment is considerably reduced by discouraging our people from seeking white-collar jobs that are visibly unavailable. If every individual can rely on his skills rather than certificates, unemployment will reduce in the society.”

    He added: “Our weekly empowerment programme is just one of the numerous initiatives we have implemented since 2011. Till date, we have successfully executed 76 constituency projects across the district. Some of these projects include:30 boreholes, 11classroom blocks, two drainage channels, four ambulance points;  22 transformers, three street lamps on arterial roads, one skill acquisition centre and one science laboratory.”

    Advising the beneficiaries, Ashafa said: ”It will be a thing of joy to see all the beneficiaries doing well with these empowerment tools within a few months from now. Our monitoring team will visit the beneficiaries to ascertain how they have utilised the tools and devise a way of assisting them in the event of any challenge.”

    The chairman, Ibeju-Lekki Local Government, Hon Kemi Surakat, APC chieftains and traditional rulers from the area, described the initiative as laudable.

    A beneficiary, Miss Adebayo Aminat, said: “I am more than glad at the moment. I wasn’t expecting this at all; now I can go to any length to announce that the All Progressives Party is the true party that can bring the dividends of democracy ýto the common man in the street. I pray that God Almighty will continue to enrich Senator Ashafa for doing this for us”.

    Mr Hassan Sodiq, who had been hiring his vulcanizing tool to survive on a daily basis, showered encomiums on the lawmaker.

  • The problem with Rivers’ politics

    SIR: The recent clashes between the cliques of the PDP and APC in Rivers State during a slated ward-visit by the governor to Rumuoprikom (later cancelled), home-zone of the supervising minister of education are inexcusable and condemnable.

    That some youths in the state decided to uncritically support public figures instead of their respective party’s beliefs is distressing. It is easy to see why it might be difficult for youths of today to wrestle power from the ageing in governance.

    How else can you interpret youngsters’ disposition to work with a “group philosophy” that leads to destruction, and anarchy? That a fracas on the go elsewhere snowballed as far as Rumuokuta and Rumuigbo is beyond understanding.

    And, that the two principal leviathans (the governor and education minister) have not bothered to douse the tension overtly and covertly is alarming. Unwholesome are the role of party chieftains who for all time have been fanning the malevolence with fiery speeches.

    States chief executives should learn to follow General Ibrahim Babangida (Rtd)’s apothegm, when upon retirement, certain retired army officers joined disputes with him in the press: “I do not join issues with people who in God’s infinite mercy I am higher than.”

    If the governor assumes rightly that the minister is beneath him, then he should follow the rule and urge his supporters to do same so that Rivers State will be peaceful.

    It is also imperative for the minister of state for education, Nyesom Wike, who always elects to castigate the governor at the slightest impulse to act ministerial if that office is to be respected and, if he truly means well for the people of Rivers State. Politics after all is not a gladiatorial contest.

    Governor Rotimi Amaechi is worthy of respect. He is one amongst a few governors in Nigeria who tolerates the opposition, and has not used his power to muscle them to oblivion. There are states in Nigeria where the opposition do not have a voice; not by choice but because the machinery of state are used to pursue them out of relevance.

    In Rivers State, the opposition have access to the states media which they have used to run announcements against the governor. He has refused to be intimidated by many, and has called off the missteps of others. Almost akin to governor George Corley Wallace Jnr of Alabama who even as a member of the same party (Democratic party) stood up to President J.F.Kennedy during the segregationist crisis at the University of Alabama (though he apologised to blacks later in his twilight years). That is the beauty of democracy: members of the same party do not have to agree all of the time and disagreements should not be misread as subversive criminal act. Will politicians ever act right?

     

    • Simon Abah

    Port Harcourt, Rivers State

     

  • APC: Jega’s assurances offer hope of free, fair polls if…

    APC: Jega’s assurances offer hope of free, fair polls if…

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has said Nigeria may be able to organise truly free, fair, credible and transparent elections in the nearest future, if the recent comments by the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Attahiru Jega, reflect the thinking of the electoral commission.

    In a statement yesterday in Lagos its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said three issues stand out in the comments credited to the INEC chairman. These are: that hooded security personnel would no longer be allowed during elections; that the security paraphernalia in future elections should be under the control of INEC and that the commission would use e-card readers for the 2015 general elections.

    It said if the INEC chairman meant what he said, this “is a breakthrough of sorts in Nigeria’s long quest to hold elections that are not only free, fair and transparent, but are seen to be so by the local and international community”.

    APC said it would hold Prof. Jega to his promises to avoid a repeat of past elections when promises made by the electoral chief were not kept.

    It said: “During the voter registration, Prof. Jega vowed that anyone who engaged in double or multiple registration would be prosecuted. However, some parties, who probably had an advanced knowledge that his statement was an empty threat, apparently encouraged their members to engage in double or multiple registration, thus gaining undue advantage over others. Yet, they were never prosecuted.

    “Also, during the last Ekiti State governorship election, Prof. Jega announced that colour-coded ballot papers would be used in different local governments to prevent election fraud. But that never happened and no reason was given for the failure. This is why we intend to hold Prof. Jega to every word he said in connection with the key issues mentioned above.”

    APC recalled that before the Osun State governorship election earlier this month, the party warned that the use of hooded security personnel would encourage hoodlums with access to police or the Department of State Service (DSS) uniform to invade the state and perpetrate mayhem in the name of providing security.

    “Sadly, that is exactly what happened during the election. In fact, reports have said at least one person is now being prosecuted after he and others were found wearing black T-shirts with the inscription ‘police’ in front and ‘DSS’ on its back during the Osun election. Is there any clearer evidence that some of those who came to Osun in hoods were actually fake security agents?” the party queried.

    It also recalled that on May 26, the APC issued a statement in which it tasked INEC to immediately commence the process that will lead to the use of the e-card reader for the elections in Ekiti and Osun states, if indeed the electoral body is committed to ensuring that the polls are free, fair and transparent.

    “If that advice had been heeded by INEC, perhaps the allegations of electoral fraud, and the litigation following the elections in both states, would not have arisen.

    “We said in the May 26 statement: ‘Impersonation, multiple voting and endless altercations and associated tension will be eliminated at the voting centres with the use of e-card reader and not by any other means. Also, the e-card reader will ensure the automatic recording of all accredited voters with verified permanent voter’s cards in such a way that does not lend itself to manipulation, thus preventing the falsification of results at the collation centres’,” APC said.

    The party challenged INEC to put its money where its mouth is by using October’s governorship election in Adamawa State to test the measures that would ensure credible elections in 2015, including barring hooded security personnel, taking charge of the security men and women to be deployed for the election and using e-card reader to forestall electoral fraud.

     

  • Rivers PDP members join APC

    Rivers PDP members join APC

    some Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members in Obio/Akpor and Emohua local government areas of Rivers State defected yesterday to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Many PDP members, led by Mr. Francis Egbulajor, defected in Emohua council.

    Mr. Ogbondah Amadi also led his supporters from Obio/Akpor Local Government to join APC.

    They defected during the local government and ward inauguration of new executives of the Ikwerre/Etche People’s Forum, a group canvassing for an Ogoni governorship candidate in 2015.

    The president-general of the forum, Emmanuel Amadi, who received the defectors, said the group was not a political party, adding that it promotes justice, equity and fairness.

    Amadi said: “We welcome you to our great party. Thank God you have identified the difference between light and darkness. We will communicate to the state APC leadership, which will formally receive you into the party. You all have made a wise decision.

    “Our objective is to support an Ogoni candidate in 2015. It is ideal to look for constituencies or a place where the people have not led the state. Former Governor Peter Odili is from Rivers West Senatorial District. Governor Rotimi Amaechi is from Rivers East.”

    “Okrika produced Chief Rufus Ada-George. We are expecting Southeast Senatorial District to produce the next governor. Opobo/Nkoro, which is in Southeast Senatorial District, has produced a deputy governor; Adoni has also produced one, but Ogoni has produced none.”

    Ebulajor said: “Today, I have defected from the PDP to APC with my supporters and family. Anybody that pulls out from the darkness called PDP will not go back again. We cannot be deceived any longer; we are tired of following betrayers.”

    Amadi said: “We won’t go back to the PDP. It took us time to take this decision. Now that we have joined the APC, we will mobilise people for the party.”

    The defectors and members of the forum visited the Paramount Ruler of Omagwa Kingdom, Eze Jacob Orji, who said Amaechi’s successor must be “fearless like him (Amaechi)”.