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  • Atiku ‘ll return to us, says PDP

    Atiku ‘ll return to us, says PDP

    Defection: ‘PDM respects ex-VP’s decision’

    The Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM) has said it respects the decision of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    In a statement in Minna yesterday, the Niger State PDM Chairman Adamu Aliyu Mohammed said the party wished the Turakin Adamawa the best of luck in his new party.

    Atiku, who is believed to be a strong financier of the PDM, the party he claimed to have co-founded in 1998, last Sunday, announced his defection to the APC.

    Mohammed said he had been inundated with calls on the defection of the former vice president, but advised party faithful to remain calm.

    The party chairman said the national leadership had not taken a decision on the defection, adding that the clarification was necessary because of speculations arising from Atiku’s decision.

    “The PDM respects the judgement and democratic right of the Turakin Adamawa andwishes him well in his new party,” he said.

    Mohammed added that the PDM remained united and focused in pursuing its mandate, which he said was built on ideas and ideals to salvage the country.

     

  • Understanding APC’s strategy

    Understanding APC’s strategy

    SIR: For many who do not understand political arithmetic, it would be easy to dismiss the APC’s poaching style as impolitic or wrong political calculation especially against the background of the kind of recognition it has given to the governors that defected from the PDP. Some commentators seem to be taken in by the argument that the APC’s decision to make the defecting governors leaders of the party in their states amounted to political suicide.

    That reasoning exposes a sheer lack of proper understanding of the workings of politics in Nigeria especially against the pervasive impact of power of incumbency in public mobilisation.

    The behemoth which PDP represents demands unleashing war generals that enjoy present day following and good will in other to dismantle it. The mere fact that the leaders of the former legacy parties that merged to form APC are not presently accommodated as leaders of the party in those states does not remove from the fact that they are respectable stakeholders in APC.

    If these defecting governors were not honourably accommodated, the mass defection of members of the National Assembly to the APC would not have been possible. Politics is all about numbers.

    APC leadership understands the operating environment and where the real power and influence resides and could not have for any reason denied the defecting governors control of the structure in their respective states.

    What these leaders would have done, in the spirit of compromise to make APC and its members electable, is to humbly subordinate themselves to the leadership of these defecting governors. After the elections, the issue of restructuring can then be placed on the table.

    Nobody changes a winning team, if the structures the governors are bringing to the political table have the fire and bite to deliver, why should the APC begin to pander to emotions and make costly political mistakes? Discussing who controls the structures now based on the spirit of the merger would create unmanageable distractions and the party might implode.

    The revolutionary train that would reshape the politics of Nigeria has taken off; these sulking leaders that have refused to accept the political realities on the ground should better shape up or ship out. Pontificating over the morality of the decision to hand over the party structure to the defected governors amounts to shadow boxing.

    Real politics demands ingenuity, being practical and ability to rise above emotions to take the hard decisions that engender success. No one needs doubt the fact that the governors hold the aces in this march to dislodge PDP across the country.

    • Alhaji Garba Umar

    Kano

  • Learn from APC registration, ex-Lagos deputy governor tells INEC

    Learn from APC registration, ex-Lagos deputy governor tells INEC

    Former Lagos State Deputy Governor Femi Pedro has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to learn from the All Progressives Congress (APC) membership registration, which begins today.

    Pedro told reporters in Akure, Ondo State, that arrangements were made to ensure a smooth registration, urging INEC to study how materials and personnel would be moved to polling units.

    He urged prospective party members to register at the polling units where they usually vote

    Pedro said: “We are ready in terms of logistics, machines and others. Akure will be agog tomorrow and our people will get registered in all polling units.”

    He debunked the report that there was crisis in Ondo APC, adding that “it was just a family misunderstanding.”

    Pedro described the APC as one big family, which co-exists in love, peace and unity.

     

     

  • Oshiomhole faults INEC timetable

    Oshiomhole faults INEC timetable

    Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole has faulted the 2015 timetable released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    The governor said the poll schedule left much loopholes for rigging.

    Addressing reporters yesterday in Asaba, Delta State, after a stakeholders’ meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Oshiomhole said: “Nigerians cannot afford to continue to be a laughing stock, even by West African standard.”

    The governor said there were fears that elections would be rigged and the people were worried.

    According to him, INEC must recognise that matches were determined by the conduct of the referee and not the attitude of the players.

    Oshiomhole said: “I don’t understand why INEC wants to climb the tree from the top; they do recognise they have explanations to make. Common sense demands that you climb a tree from the bottom for good reason.

    “In any case, we have been in this democracy for 15 years since 1999. What makes Nigeria is the collection of the federating sates.

    “When you want to do Presidential election first, and you are deviating from an old pattern, you have some explanations to do.

    “But it is more so when under the leadership of this INEC, National Assembly election was first done the last time and people complained that the House of Assembly should have been first.

    “If you know you still have to do some test- running, you rather try some test-running with smaller units because the governorship election will not be taking place in the 36 states. The election into the Houses of Assembly can’t be as problematic as the Presidential election.

    “INEC has to convince us that its policies have been formed by strategy they can speak to, that they need to speak to it by the commitment to deliver on free and fair election.

    He said “the noise that has heated up the polity points to the fact that the political class still take the people for granted’’.

    While urging the leadership of INEC to take another look at the the timetable, Governor Oshiomhole stressed that conducting the election from House of Assembly to governorship and National Assembly before the Presidential would pay off.

    Oshiomhole hailed the Delta State leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for its determination to develop the party.

    He said: “When you have a party that is not organised around godfathers, where you recognise that the party is about the people, free people must engage in free contests because party and democracy are a contest of ideas and not monologue but dialogue.”

    The governor stressed that the All Progressive Congress (APC) is different from other parties based on the principle of popular participation, inclusiveness rather than exclusion.

    He advised the residents to register in the APC membership registration exercise today.

  • 2015: Atiku’s new calculations

    2015: Atiku’s new calculations

    Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC). Will he revive his presidential ambition on the new platform? Group Political Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU writes on the prospects and constraints of his struggle for the Presidency.

    He is a big catch for the main opposition party, the All Progressives Congress (APC). He is not new to the platform, having worked variously with many of its national leaders, either as the Vice President, presidential candidate of the defunct Action Congress (AC) and automatic member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees (BoT). However, it is believed that his defection may change the permutation in the party, especially as the opposition leaders search for a credible presidential candidate.

    The odds weighed heavily against the Turaki Adamawa in the PDP. In the ruling party, he had a slim chance of survival. History is repeating itself. In 2007, he had defected to the defunct AC and emerged as its presidential flag bearer. But, he was defeated at the poll by the late President Umaru Yar’Adua. Shortly after the poll, he retraced his steps to the PDP. He attempted to mend fences with his former boss, former President Olusegun Obasanjo. But, even as the consensus candidate of the Northern establishment in the 2011 presidential elections, he could not defeat President Goodluck Jonathan.

    After the election, Atiku was sidelined by the PDP leadership. Since he has not dumped his presidential ambition, he was perceived as a threat to Dr. Jonathan. Many pro-Jonathan crusaders have branded him as the politician on the prowl, stressing that he may likely emerge as the beneficiary of the push for power shift to the North.

    The Adamawa-born politician also had a running battle with the former PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, and Governor Muritala Nyako over the running of the state chapter. He had chided the former chairman for high handedness and overbearing attitude. He said Tuku’s leadership traits are offensive to democracy.

    Atiku complained that he was never carried along in the running of the party, despite the privileges conferred on him as a former Vice President by the PDP constitution. An attempt was even made to exclude his name from the list of delegates to the last national convention of the party in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FTC). His right was restored, following a formal complaint by him to the national secretariat. However, he parted ways with the mainstream PDP at the convention when he emerged as one of the arrowheads of the New PDP.

    The former Vice President has remained a major factor in national politics since he joined the fray in the Third Republic. He has been a consummate politician, great mobiliser, master strategist and crowd puller. In the PDP, it was believed that he was gathering forces, ahead of 2015. His associates have confided that he will renew his bid for federal power in the APC.

    Atiku’s ambition to rule the country had hit the rock four times. In the aborted Third Republic, he was projected by his mentor, the late General Sheu Yar’Adua, the founder of the Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM). That was when the military leader, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, excluded him and other key politicians from the race. At the Jos convention of the proscribed Social Democratic Party (SDP), he stepped down for the late Chief Moshood Abiola, who emerged as the flag bearer.

    He had the chance in 2003. But, as his former associate, former Governor Orji Kalu of Abia State recalled, the former Vice President bungled it. That year, many governors were ready to serve as campaign managers for Atiku. They believed that, if he contested, he would beat his boss, Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo, thereby saving them from persistent persecution. But the former Vice President failed to seize the moment. At midnight, he directed his supporters, who were in the majority, to endorse Obasanjo.

    In 2007, he was not as strong as he was in 2003. Although he was more determined, the power of incumbency wielded by Obasanjo was so overwhelming. Yet, he was undeterred. In 2011, Atiku picked up the gantlet. He was on the firing line. He successfully mobilised the Northern leaders to select him as the regional candidate. But the regional support collapsed at Eagles Squares, Abuja, during the subsequent presidential primaries.

    Atiku is back in the ring at a critical point in national history. Ahead of 2015, the debate on good governance is on the front burner. The North also is intensifying its agitating for power shift, based on an inexplicable agreement on presidential zoning between President Jonathan and Northern leaders. The ruling party is in turmoil, torn apart by acrimony and intrigues.

    However, analysts contend that Atiku’s defection to the APC is not motivated by any ideological drive. Neither was the civil war in the PDP an ideological war. But, his argument is solid and convincing. “The country is in crisis and every effort must be made to rescue Nigeria”, he told reporters in Lagos. He explained that he was on tour of the six geo-political zones for consultation on the way forward. During the consultations, the options were weighed. Some of his supporters persuaded him to stay on in the PDP. But, their argument was countered by other associates who pointed out that there will be no level playing ground for ambitious party chieftains at the primaries. They reasoned that the primaries will be designed for the endorsement of President Jonathan.

    Other associates advised him to explore the possibility of nurturing the PDM. But, it was discovered that those handling the PDM project have never attempted to project the party to all the regions. Therefore, it lacks taproots across the zones. This is at variance with Atiku’s posturing as a man who has built networks across the country. Also, old PDM members are ready to discredit the platform. Last year, one of the founders, Chief Tony Anenih, the PDP BoT Chairman, said that Atiku did not have the mandate to revive the group without consultation with the surviving members. He said the former Vice President cannot single handedly transform the political group into a political party without their collective support.

    Sources close to Atiku revealed that the only option was the APC. Many APC leaders are his associates. “Having endorsed the push for democratic change in 2015, the former Vice President is not interested in polarising the rank of the opposition, whose cause he has identified with. He is putting the country first before any ambition”, added the source.

    If Atiku enters the presidential race, he will be eyeing the elusive office for the fourth time. In his first attempt, he was prompted by the late Gen. Yar’Adua. From the onset, he was an integral member of the PDM kitchen cabinet, a dependable ally of the Tafida Katsina and confidant at the birth of the Peoples Front of Nigeria (PFN). He was not in the dark when it was resolved that the political machinery should join the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP), one of the two parties decreed into existence by former military President Babangida.

    When Yar’Adua was being edged out of the presidential race, he decided to groom Atiku, his loyal associate, for the number one job. Atiku became the third SDP presidential aspirant, along with Alhaji Baba Gana Kingibe and Abiola at the Jos Convention. In those days, embattled politicians were involved in a lot of horse trading. To defeat Kingibe, Atiku was asked to step down for Abiola at the shadow poll. But a deep gulf later ensued between the Yar’Adua and Abiola. The bone of contention was Abiola’s refusal to accept Atiku as his running mate, contrary to Yar’Adua’s calculation. The 14 SDP state chairmen made it impossible by throwing their weight behind Kingibe. The loss of the two slots-Presidency and Vice Presidency was painful to Yar’Adua. The only option left for him was to gain the control of the party. He installed Anenih as the SDP national chairman. It is an irony of political life that both Anenih and Atiku, who harmoniously defended the PDM’s interest at that time, are now divided by the power games of the post-Yar’Adua period.

    After the annulment of the historic 1993 presidential election, politicians were in disarray. Yar’Adua wanted to bounce back. Atiku was part of that scramble for power as a member of the PDM in the 1994 constitutional conference set up by the late Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha. Along with Yar’Adua, he pursued the goal of setting a disengagement day for the military. Yar’Adua later died in mysterious circumstances in the prison, following his conviction over a phantom coup. After his demise, the bereaved PDM members started to look up to Atiku, the successor to the vacant stool of his mentor.

    When the former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, set up a transition programme, PDM became the engine room and most formidable caucus in the PDP. Atiku worked with other members, including the late Chief Sunday Afolabi, Chief Anenih, Prof. Ango Abdullahi, Senator Jibril Martins-Kuye, Alhaji Lawal kaita, Chief Dapo Sarunmi, Chief Olorunfunmi Basorun, Chief Yomi Edu, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, Senator Tony Adefuye, Mrs. Onikepo Oshodi, Mrs. Titilayo Ajanaku, and Alhaji Abubakar Rimi, to install Obasanjo as the President in 1999.

    In 1999, Atiku dumped his presidential ambition. He returned to Adamawa State and emerged as the governor-elect. Obasanjo, the President-elect, was just floating in the PDP. He had no root. He emerged based on three factors. The North had reluctantly conceded the Presidency to the Southwest. Some Northern elements believed that, when he was the military Head of State, he did not work against the interest of the region. Also, the military wanted to remain as a factor and power broker. No other Yoruba man could be trusted, since Chief Olu Falae refused to join the PDP.

    Obasanjo did not have any blue-print. PDM members-Atiku, Afolabi, Sarunmi and Edu-were part of the numerous delegations asking him to return to power. Obasanjo had a nightmare selecting a running mate. Four names were presented to him-Rimi, Bamanga Tukur, Prof. Abdullahi and Atiku. He settled for Atiku because of the PDM’s influence.

    As the Vice President, Atiku was the de facto President. He was the Controlling Minister of the Economy. To get things done, politicians and others must pass through Atiku route. The former Vice President was also popular among the governors. Thus, in 2003, many of them urged him to displace Obasanjo. The President was sweating profusely at the primaries. He prostrated before Atiku before earning re-nomination. At that point too, Atiku ceased to be the apple of Obasanjo’s eye.

    Henceforth, the former Vice President was under security watch. He was accused of corruption and disloyalty. He became a nominal figure in the government with no duties to perform. The government even made frantic efforts to cripple him politically. But Atiku ran to the court for security and survival. The former Vice President enjoyed tremendous goodwill as the AC presidential candidate. However, after the election, he returned to the PDP. The move embarrassed the AC leadership. Other PDP defectors and associates of Atiku, including Kaita and Ghali Umar Naa’ba, fired salvos at the party, saying that it was not different from the PDP. But Atiku also took other steps. He ran to Abeokuta to make peace with his estranged boss, Obasanjo. It was to be a secret fence-mending meeting. But, coming out of the meeting, an embarrassed Atiku was accosted by many reporters. The former President yelled at his visitor. Irked by the turn of events, former Abia State Governor Kalu chided Atiku for the wrong step. The reconciliation was not fruitful. It did not lead to any renewal of contact. When the former Vice President indicated unfolded his plan to contest for the Presidency in 2011, Obasanjo laughed mischievously. “I dey laugh o”, he said. It was loaded with meanings. Indeed, Obasanjo joined forces with President Jonathan to abort Atiku’s dream. When Atiku was tearing the record of the President at the primaries, Obasanjo stood up and whispered some words into the President’s ears. Atiku lost.

    Last year, at a public lecture at Ibadan, Oyo State capital, Obasanjo castigated Atiku. He said he refused to hand over to him because he could not vouch for him.

    Now that Atiku is back to the progressive fold, what are his chances? A source said that he needs to reconcile with former AC leaders in the APC, who may be weary of his style. Many of them have described him as an inconsistent politician, who jumped the ship after losing the presidential election.

    With the defection of the former Vice President, APC now has six presidential aspirants. They are Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Senator Bukola Saraki, Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, and Sam Nda-Isaiah.s

     

  • Atiku will come back to us – PDP

    Atiku will come back to us – PDP

    The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is yet to come to terms with Sunday’s defection of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar from the ruling party to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Apparently disturbed by the development, the ruling party on Tuesday described the defection as a political voyage, saying Atiku’s return to the PDP is only a matter of time.

    In a statement announcing his defection, Atiku accused the ruling party of abandoning the Nigerian people that gave them electoral victories over the years. He described the PDP as irredeemable.

    But PDP’s Deputy National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, said the defection of Atiku and others would have no effect on the party, adding that the PDP remained the only “consistent party” in the country.

    Secondus said: “Defection or not, it will not affect our party. When they leave, they go on voyage and they come back and we receive them. I can tell you that they will go and come back

    “We are waiting for Atiku to go on this voyage and to come back. He has done it before. This is not the first time and we will welcome him back when he comes, because APC cannot win election. They are not firmly rooted.

    “We will win this election, we have the statistics, we have the population, and we will win the 2015 election.”

    The party chief said while the PDP has been on ground since 1999, opposition parties have yet to find their feet, insisting that the ruling party remained the largest party in the land.

    “The opposition had just started the registration of their members. We have done registration of our party 13 years ago and every year we update, we are the largest party in Nigeria,” he maintained.

    Secondus described efforts of the opposition as media gymnastics and urged PDP members not to allow the opposition to change their perception.

     

  • Tinubu: Atiku’s return is good for democracy

    Tinubu: Atiku’s return is good for democracy

    •Excitement as Akande, Nyako, Marwa, others unite for APC in Adamawa

    Yola, the Adamawa State capital, was agog with political excitement yesterday when the state’s top political leaders and national leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) launched the party.

    In attendance were former Vice President Atiku Abubakar; Governor Murtala Nyako; former Lagos State Governor Buba Marwa; former presidential candidate Nuhu Ribadu and Senator Mohammed Bindow Jibrila – all Adamawa indigenes.

    They were joined by the leaders of the party, led by its Interim National Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande and National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

    The party chieftains were supported by other APC leaders from parts of the country, including Senator Ali Modi Sheriff, Senator Danjuma Goje, ex-Bayelsa State Goverbor Timpreye Sylva, Senator Sani Yeriman Bakura, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu and Dr Audu Ogbe.

    The host was the Interim State Chairman Kobis Aris Thimnu. He received the party’s flag from Chief Akande.

    The APC reaffirmed its objective of winning the federal elections next year.

    Akande, who formally received Atiku, following the former vice president’s defection on Sunday, said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had been rested.

    He urged Adamawa interim state executive to ensure that the registration of members was not by allocation or proxy but by physical registration.

    Tinubu urged Nigerians to celebrate the ousting of the PDP .

    The foremer Lagos State governor advised Nigerians to sweep away the dirt and social vices of the PDP with APC’s broom.

    The APC leader described the return of Atiku to the progressives fold as a giant stride that would enhance democracy.

    He hailed Nyako’s efforts at resolving the internal crisis in the party in the state.

    Nyako said the PDP had died and Nigerians should await its final interment.

    He said: “The PDP has gone for good for the reign of impunity. The party is dead. Nigerians should rally round to bury it.”

    Sylva apologised to Nigerians, on behalf of the people of Niger Delta region, for mobilising them to vote for President Goodluck Jonathan in 2011.

    He regretted that the President had failed to deliver democracy’s dividends to Nigerians.

    Sylva said: “In 2011, I was in Yola to mobilise the Adamawa people to vote for our son, Dr Goodluck Jonathan. You kept to faith by voting for him as president of Nigeria. In 2014, I am here to apologise to Adamawa people for the failure of our son, Goodluck Jonathan.”

    The former governor said he was in the state to team up with the North so that they could salvage Nigeria from the pangs of deprivation.

    “The country is not performing. The ship is sinking due to poor leadership,” he said.

    Ribadu spoke on unity of the party at all levels, saying unity and mutual respect were the sure roads to success.

    The former EFCC chairman said the APC had grown into a formidable force that could uproot the PDP.

    Marwa said the power squabble within the party had been resolved to make the state better.

    Jibrila, who spoke on behalf of defected senators, assured that after the elections, the APC would form the government at the centre.

    Nyako thanked Atiku for joining hands to fight the bad leadership of the PDP.

     

  • Tambuwal, Ihedioha reject PDP in battle for House

    Tambuwal, Ihedioha reject PDP in battle for House

    Reps’ leaders urge court to dismiss suit to stop leadership change

    The legal battle over the House of Representatives leadership took a new turn yesterday.

    Speaker Aminu Tambuwal, other principal officers and members, who defected to the All Progressives Party (APC), objected to the suit by the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), seeking to prevent leadership change in the House.

    Tambuwal and 52 others, named as defendants, queried the jurisdictional powers of a Federal High Court in Abuja to hear the suit, which primarily seeks to restrain the defendants from effecting any changes in the composition of the House’s leadership.

    To Tambuwal and others, the PDP lacks the locus standi to institute the suit, which, in their view, is an abuse of court process. Besides, to them, it is also not justiceable as it touches on the internal affairs of the House, over which the court lacks jurisdiction.

    It is also their contention that the case amounts to an academic or hypothetical exercise.

    The above formed the core of submissions by the defence team, who argued the objection at the resumed hearing of the case yesterday before Justice Adeniyi Ademola.

    The team, which includes Adeniyi Akintola (SAN), Mahmud Magaji (SAN), Sebastine Hon (SAN), Abiodun Owonikoko (SAN) and Eric Apia prayed the court to either dismiss or strike out the suit.

    Magaji (for House of Reps, Tambuwal and Deputy Speaker, Emeka Ihedioha) argued that the suit amounted to an abuse of court process because it was predicated on a similar suit pending before another judge of the same court.

    He argued that the PDP lacked the locus standi to institute the suit because it is not a member of the House of Representatives and could not interfere in the internal businesses of the House.

    Magaji urged the court to dismiss the suit.

    Akintola said the defendants were challenging the jurisdiction of the court to hear the case in view of the provisions of Sections 23 and 30 of the Legislative House’s Powers and Privileges Act, Cap L12 Laws of Nigeria 2004.

    He argued that by virtue of those provisions, all courts are barred from enquiring into how principal officers of a legislative house exercise their powers.

    Akintola argued that the exercise of such powers could only be questioned if they are exercised in breach of constitutional provisions. He contended that it was unlawful for the PDP to seek to preemptively restrain the principal officers of the House, and other defendants in the suit from exercising their constitutional powers.

    He also noted the similarity in the suit and the earlier one before Justice Mohammed. He argued that both cases were seeking primarily, the interpretation of Section 68 (1) (g) of the Constitution.

    Akintola argued that the reliefs sought in both cases were intertwined and urged the court to strike the suit out on grounds of abuse of court process.

    Hon queried the plaintiff’s right to sue on behalf of members of the APC, who are also principal members of the House.

    He argued that even where the PDP could sue to protect the position of its members in the House, it cannot act in a similar manner in relation to other principal members who belong to APC, without their consent.

    Relying on the provision of Section 50(1)(b) of the Constitution, Hon queried the PDP’s right to bother itself about how members of the House organise themselves when it is not a member.

    “In this case, PDP is an interloper and a busybody. Section 50(1)(b) of the Constitution has created a vested interest that belongs to a certain class of people, who are members of the House. PDP, not being a member of the House, has no standing to institute this action,” Hon said.

    Relying on Section 60 of the Constitution, Hon argued that the House has the powers to regulate its procedures. He added that by virtue of the provision of section 60 of the Constitution, the “PDP lacks the powers to dabble in the internal affairs of the House”.

    Owonikoko argued that the case was an abuse of the process because it was predicated on the existing case before Justice Mohammed.

    He urged the court to dismiss it.

    Justice Ademola adjourned till February 14 for the plaintiff to respond and argue its originating summons.

    The PDP, in its originating summons, urged the court to determine whether, in view of the mandatory provision of Section 68(1)(g) of the Constitution, and in view of the pendency of an earlier suit by the defecting lawmakers, they (the defecting legislators) can participate in any proceedings to remove the House’ principal officers.

    The party would like the court to determine whether, in view of the provision of Section 68(1)(g) of the Constitution and the pending suit by the defecting legislators, they (the defecting lawmakers) can lawfully alter the composition or constitution of the House’s leadership.

    It is praying the court to declare that in view of Section 68(1)(g) of the Constitution and the pending case marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/621/2013 the defecting lawmakers “cannot lawfully vote and contribute to any motion for the removal or change of any of the principal officers” of the House.

    PDP also urged the court to declare that the defecting lawmakers, who are plaintiffs in the earlier suit before Justice Ahmed Mohammed of the same court, “are not competent to sponsor, contribute or vote on any motion calling for the removal or change in the leadership of the House or the removal of any principal officers of the House”.

    It prayed the court for an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants from “altering or changing the House’s leadership.

    The PDP filed an application for interlocutory injunction restraining the defendants from altering the leadership of the House, pending the determination of the substantive suit.

     

  • Senate may have stormy session today

    Senate may have stormy session today

    A MEETING slated by Senate President David Mark with 11 the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senators defecting to the All Progressives Congress (APC) failed to hold yesterday.

    The failure of the meeting heightened tension in the Upper Chamber as senators return to plenary today.

    The Senate leadership failed to read the letter by the defecting senators informing the Senate of their decision to change parties on the floor as expected last Thursday.

    Senator Bukola Saraki raised the issue under qualified privilege but Senator Ike Ekweremadu, who presided, said he did not have the letters with him and that he had been informed of a meeting slated for yesterday.

    It could not be immediately established why the meeting failed to hold as at press time yesterday.

    A source, however, said the meeting had been rescheduled for today because Saraki, the leader of the defecting senators, returned late yesterday from Ilorin, Kwara State.

    One of the defecting senators told our correspondent yesterday that the only way to prevent a turbulent session today is “if the Senate President decides to read our change of party letter submitted to him last week”.

    The senator, who spoke in confidence in Abuja, explained that though Mark had initiated “a meeting with us, no matter the outcome of the meeting, our letter must be read”.

    Insisting that “there is not going back meeting or no meeting”, the senator added that “some of us have seen the so-called meeting as a ploy by the leadership of the Senate to buy time”.

    He said: “What is anybody going to tell us at the meeting? They have been talking about the matter being in court. There is a fact that there is no court order stopping the Senate President from reading our letter.

    “They have also said that no reference should be made to the matter in the Senate because the matter is in court. We know that all this is gimmick to frustrate our efforts to move to our desired party.”

    The senator also faulted the argument that the letter could not be read because it was signed by a group.

     

  • Tinubu vindicated on National Conference

    Tinubu vindicated on National Conference

    When the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu returned from a medical trip abroad last year, he picked holes in the National Conference. Happenings after that and now have shown that his fears were founded.

    What is your reaction to the National Conference being proposed by President Goodluck Jonathan?

    This dialogue is for who and by who? Government is about trust. I am standing with the governor of Osun State, Rauf Aregbesola. Go to Osun and look at his programmes and you will see that his people trust him. If Aregbesola says a road will pass here today, people believe him because the road will pass there immediately. The level of deception in the country is very high. Now, they have adopted public deception as their strategy. How many months to the elections? How long have we been talking about it? Why suddenly? Now, there is something in political history and social history. They say beware of Greek’s gift. It is only a very smart rodent in a house full of little crumble of poison that will survive the trappings of the owners. Let us, first of all, ask series of questions. But I need to consult with my party , but I see a contradiction here. I will discuss with my party. I see a diversion here. I will discuss with my party. I see deception here. I will discuss with my party. I see lack of honesty and integrity here. I will discuss with my party. It is time to look at our own agenda and develop it. Nigeria is being deceived. So, where is the sovereignty? What about the electoral act? What about the Lemu Committee? We have not had white paper or green paper out of that. Why now? How many months to the elections? Can’t you smell a good soup when it is well cooked? Can’t you smell bad one that stinks? Can’t you smell the odour of the deception when it is passing by? It is left for our party and all of us to note all these developments. You inherit the assets and liabilities of your predecessor. This President was the Vice President when Umaru Yar’Adua told the world that the election process that brought him to office was floored and he promised that he will do something about it. He started and set up a panel of eminent Nigerians up to look into that process, where Justice Mohammed Uwais, with great eminent Nigerians, sat down to look at the matter. Where are the reports that came out of that deliberation? They chose to compromise the electoral process, they chose to dwell on corruption and the INEC.

    Some people are calling for the postponement of the 2015 general elections because of the proposed national conference. What is your reaction?

    That is the saying of a thief who wants to continue to hand on to the opportunity, who is enjoying and stealing and want to continue to have that opportunity. What are you postponing about election? Is it with the head you walk or with the feet? You must stand on something. You say democracy and sovereignty of this country is about the National Assembly. But I argued then, that sovereignty belongs to the people. Now, there is a diversion. where is the agenda? I want to say that you should beware of the poisonous gift. But I cannot conclude here today, unless I consult with my party. I can only express my own feelings. I am a democrat. If the party says go this direction, I must follow them to that direction.