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Tag: APC

  • Defections: PDP sues Tambuwal

    Defections: PDP sues Tambuwal

    •Speaker to court: dismiss case

    In what seems a pre-emptive move, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has asked a Federal High Court in Abuja to restrain the House of Representatives from altering the composition of its leadership.

    PDP, in a suit it filed on January 7, urged the court to, among others, restrain House of Representatives’ Speaker Aminu Tambuwal, other principal officers and defecting members from taking any step “to alter or change the leadership of the first defendant (PDP).”

    The suit has the House, its Speaker, the Deputy Speaker Emeka Ihedioha and other principal officers and former PDP members, who defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC), as defendants.

    An officer of the PDP, Nanchang Ndam, said in a supporting affidavit that while the defection of some of the defendants was still a subject of litigation before Justice Mohammed, the defendants, particularly the Minority Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila, have issued threats to change the leadership 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 equally filed an application for interlocutory injunction restraining the defendants from altering the leadership of the House pendinga the determination of the substantive suit.

    One of the defendants’ lawyers, Sebastine Hon (SAN), has urged the court to strike out the suit for want of jurisdiction.

    In a notice of preliminary objection he filed yesterday for the 11th to 30th defendants, Hon claimed that the plaintiff lacked the locus standi to institute the suit; that the suit is not justiceable; that the court lacked the jurisdiction to dabble in the internal affairs of the House, and that the case amounts to an academic or hypothetical exercise.

    He also filed a counter-affidavit to the plaintiff’s application for interlocutory injunction, challenging the competence of the application.

    Last Friday, Justice Adeniyi Ademola refused an ex-parte application by the PDP, in which it sought to restrain the defendants from among others, altering the House’s leadership. He ordered the party to put the defendants on notice and adjourned till yesterday.

    When the parties returned to court yesterday, defendants’ lawyers, Mohammud Magaji (SAN), James Ocholi (SAN) and Eric Apia objected to the move by the plaintiff’s lawyer, Yunus Usman (SAN), to argue his application for interlocutory injunction.

    The lawyers argued that they were served last Friday and were entitled to 48 hours to reply. They sought for time to respond.

    Justice Ademola granted the defendants’ request. He gave them up to January 16 to file their responses and serve the plaintiff. He adjourned the matter till January 20 for hearing of the application for interlocutory injunction.

  • Jonathan executing coup against democracy, says Tinubu

    Jonathan executing coup against democracy, says Tinubu

    Former Governor of Lagos State Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu yesterday described Sunday’s police disruption of the rally organised by the Save Rivers Movement as a coup against democracy.

    In a strongly-worded statement last night, the All Progressives Congress (APC) leader, said the “brutal disruption” of the rally by Commissioner of Police Mbu Joseph Mbu on the directive of the Goodluck Jonathan administration adds “another dimension to the dangerous course this government has charted.”

    Tinubu said: “The People of Rivers State and of the Save Rivers Movement did nothing wrong. What the police did was criminal. The violent and direct attack on Senator Magnus Abe is a frontal assault against democracy. The Jonathan government, which is supposed to protect the public order, now constitutes threats against the very thing they have pledged to uphold. The police have been unleashed on the people.”

    The former governor also wondered why the police felt compelled to shoot and beat “unarmed fellow citizens” whose only offence was the difference of their political affiliation to the Federal Government. He said the events in Rivers showed a disdain for the law and its rule.

    He condemned the Police for the role it played in the event saying it had become a tool of political oppression. “The police no longer arrest, they are primed to shoot first and ask questions later. We are supposed to live in a constitutional democracy, but we are burdened with a Police Force that has now become an agent provocateur and a tool of political oppression. They are the partisan, strong-arm division of the Jonathan Presidency.”

    Giving the Jonathan administration more flaks, Tinubu said the Federal Government wanted to break down democratic institutions in the country. He said the presidency cannot take away the “alienable rights” of Nigerians to associate with any political party of their choice.

    “Sadly, a Presidency that was a major beneficiary of constitutional democracy conspires in Abuja to desecrate our political rights and mortgages our democracy. This government doles out money from the public treasury, not the private pockets of the Abuja despots to service hired mercenaries and political thugs. It is a deep tragedy that the public’s money is being used to employ people and weapons to shoot at the public. This is the depth of political immorality.”

    He accuses Jonathan of lording it over Nigerians: “The Jonathan Presidency is willing to sacrifice the lives of countless Nigerians so that it can continue to lord it over Nigerians. If they could shoot a current Senator in broad daylight on a Sunday, imagine the mayhem they will set upon the average citizen seeking to advance his political rights. Their purpose is not to govern Nigeria but to break down the rule of law and our democratic institutions so that they may own Nigeria.

    “The illegal conduct of the Police in Rivers should be called what it is; it is uniformed gangsters, a coup against democracy. The rights and the protection guaranteed to the Nigerian people should never be a function of the party they are affiliated with. Under the current Jonathan government, we move towards fascism.”

    Tinubu called on the National Assembly to stop the impunity before it is too late. “The National Assembly must rise to its statutory responsibility in defence of the people’s rights and to exercise legislative oversight of an executive branch through the police and a Presidency that has lost all sense of democratic balance and fair play. If the Assembly does not rise at this junction, things will only worsen and at some point, they will be forced to confront the violent misbehaviour of a government intent on perpetuating itself.”

    He called on Nigerians to set themselves in “vocal and sure opposition” to the authoritarian evolution of the Jonathan administration, while urging the international community to prevail on the Jonathan administration not to push the people to the wall.

  • Rivers under siege, say Pro-Amaechi group, APC, MOSOP

    Rivers under siege, say Pro-Amaechi group, APC, MOSOP

    The pro-Governor Rotimi Amaechi’s Save Rivers Movement (SRM), the Rivers chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni Peoples (MOSOP) have described Rivers Commissioner of Police Mbu Joseph Mbu, as a liar.

    According to them, the state is under siege.

    SRM, APC and MOSOP said yesterday that Mbu did not say the truth on Sunday’s police shooting of Senator Magnus Abe.

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Rivers chapter, however, accused Amaechi and his allies of desperation.

    The Chairman of the SRM, Aholu Charles, told reporters in Port Harcourt that there was no official communication to hold the group’s Obio/Akpor Local Government’s inauguration at the Rivers State College of Arts and Science, which was disrupted by the police.

    The SRM said: “What the police did yesterday (on Sunday) was callous, an affront to the lofty guarantees provided by Chapter 4 of the constitution of Nigeria. It is barbaric; it is simply an attempt to replace democracy with autocracy. It is simply an attempt to subvert the rights of Nigerians and an attempt to undermine the Rivers man.

    “Precisely on the 7th of January, 2014, the SRM notified the police authorities and we have a copy of that notification, of our rally in Obio/Akpor and Khana local government areas and it is stamped received.

    “The assertion by the CP that there was no form of communication of our programme is not only false; it is an attempt to stop us from legitimately pursuing our objectives, as provided under the Constitution of the SRM and enjoying our rights as guaranteed by the Constitution of Nigeria.

    “We want to state that the issue of police permit has been settled. It is not an issue that is in dispute. We do not need the permission of the police to hold rallies. What we did was to notify the police of our activities, so that they could provide us with security. We held our rally in Eleme and we notified them. The crime of the notification is such that they (police) did not respond.

    “There is no official letter from the police to say you can hold your rallies, you cannot hold your rallies. All they did was to mobilise their men to the venue of the event and disrupt the rally. So, that assertion cannot hold water.”

    MOSOP, through its President, Legborsi Saro Pyagbara, said: “We condemn, in strong terms, the highhandedness and excessive use of force by the police on members of the SRM, which led to the shooting of the Senator representing Rivers Southeast Senatorial District, Senator Magnus Abe, an Ogoni.

    “We had hoped that politics in this dispensation will be played with civility, decency and devoid of political violence. The current level of political intolerance in the country and in Rivers State, in particular, is deeply troubling and condemnable.

    “Recognising that the Ogoni people made so much sacrifice for democracy, which is being enjoyed in the country today and for which we have not benefited commensurably, we deplore the situation where any Ogoniman would become the first victim to be sacrificed on the altar of political acrimony or political violence in Rivers State.

    “We consider the action of the police as unprofessional, insensitive and an unfortunate demonstration of the growing regime of impunity in the country, which we must all rise up to tame, if democracy must survive. No matter what might have happened, the SRM or Senator Abe did not merit such level of cruelty.

    “Never again shall we allow the blood of any Ogoni person, irrespective of political persuasions, political parties or affiliations, to be spilled needlessly in the name of politics.”

    The umbrella organisation of all Ogoni people also demanded that the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Abubakar, and the Federal Government should urgently probe the shooting, with a view to bringing the perpetrators to justice

    MOSOP called on Ogoni youths to remain calm.

    The APC, through its Interim Rivers Chairman, Chief Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, accused Mbu of lying, “in his desperation to minimize the public outrage that had rightly trailed his unfortunate actions”.

    The main opposition party said: “We find it necessary to correct the wrong account of events given by CP Mbu, including his claim that we applied for police permit for most of our rallies, but failed to do so for the Obio/Akpor rally. This is a blatant lie.

    “We have never applied for police permit for any of our rallies, but for police protection. We applied for police protection for the Obio/Akpor rally, but instead of granting our request, CP Mbu sent his men to disrupt the rally and kill our people, apparently on the orders of his sponsors in Abuja.

    “We are not surprised. Since CP Mbu is a key member of the PDP, which has been behaving like a wounded lion, since losing the strategic state of Rivers. Mbu does not deserve the uniform and rank he is wearing. He has demonstrated his crass ignorance of the relevant sections of the Constitution that give Nigerians the power to associate freely, without any need for police permit. He should hide his face in shame.

    “CP Mbu is a security risk in Rivers State. He is an agent of destabilisation. Since the IGP can no longer call him to order, we hereby plead with the National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd.), to intervene and ensure CP Mbu’s redeployment. He should leave our State, as his presence in Rivers portends evil.

    “We urge CP Mbu and his sponsors to pray and fast seriously that Senator Magnus Abe gets better, as we cannot predict what will happen, if he loses his life by the misguided stand of CP Mbu, the politician.”

    The APC said if the Sunday’s show of shame by the police was a test run on what to expect during the 2015 general elections, Nigeria is in danger in the hands of politicians so desperate to use the police to intimidate Nigerians.

    The PDP, through the Special Adviser to the Chairman on Media, Pastor Jerry Needam, however, noted that the attack on some sections of the Gokana Local Government (Ogoni) council secretariat yesterday by angry youths, vindicated its earlier position that the shooting of Abe was dramatised and full of fictions.

    It said: “We note with bitterness, the level of desperation on the side of Governor Amaechi and his allies, which led them to hire thugs to cause obstructions to movement and activities along the Ogoni axis of the East-West Road early today (yesterday), in a quest to draw attention to the alleged shooting of the Senator (Abe) yesterday (on Sunday) in Port Harcourt.”

  • Ogun APC adopts Amosun for second term

    Ogun APC adopts Amosun for second term

    Chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun State adopted yesterday Governor Ibikunle Amosun for a second term.

    The party said the administration has provided quality governance as evidenced in its infra-structural and urban renewal projects, among others.

    The endorsement was carried out at a meeting of party leaders and elected office holders, including Chief Olu Adebanjo; Deputy Governor Segun Adesegun; Speaker Suraj Adekunbi; Mrs. Iyabo Anisulowo; Chief Doja Adewolu; Deacon Poju Adeyemi; Chief Dayo Abatan and council chairmen, at the June 12 Cultural Centre in Abeokuta, the state capital.

    A voice vote was conducted by Amosun’s Deputy Chief of Staff, Salisu Shuaib, and 99 per cent of those present adopted the governor for a second term.

    There was a little drama when Senator Biyi Durojaiye, who was called to endorse the adoption, declined.

    Durojaiye, who represented Ogun East Senatorial District from 1999 to 2003 on the platform of the defunct Alliance for Democracy (AD), said he wholeheartedly supports Amosun for a second term agenda but cautioned that the process of his adoption should be subjected to the APC’s constitutional provisions.

    He said the meeting was the not the right forum to adopt a candidate for the election.

    Amosun, who neither accepted nor rejected his adoption, advocated peace and unity among members.

    He said the meeting was convened to foster unity among members and enhance good governance, and should not be turned into an avenue for second term endorsement.

    Amosun said the registration of members should come before endorsement, adding: “When it is time, everybody will have a say and the majority vote would count, but the registration of members and the congress will come first. We are not here because of Amosun’s second term. Let our people know on that we are on the path of peace and are ready to accommodate as many people as possible.

    “Do not join issues with anyone. We do not have to belabour issues with the party leadership. I have always said that Chief Segun Osoba is our leader.”

  • ‘No faction in Ondo APC’

    ‘No faction in Ondo APC’

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State has said there is no parallel executive committee in the party.

    It debunked the media report that some members met in Ijare, Ifedore Local Government, and formed a parallel executive committee.

    In a statement yesterday, the party’s Interim Publicity Secretary, Rotimi Fashakin, said: “These unconscionable folks had the temerity to falsely lay claim to deriving their authority from one of our national leaders. We hereby state that the newspaper report was a mendacious piece of hogwash!

    “The APC in Ondo State is one and indivisible. The purported parallel executive committee only exists in the imagination of these individuals, who have wittingly lent themselves as willing tools in the hands of the Labour Party (LP)/Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) fusion for the purpose of scuttling the birth of liberty for the people, which the APC’s advent connotes.

    “As we stated in our earlier statement last Thursday, the authentic and only APC executive committee in Ondo is the one led by Mr. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN), which was put in place with the full insignia of the authority of the national body by the Interim National Vice-Chairman (Southwest), Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo.”

  • Council poll: APC heads for Appeal Court

    Council poll: APC heads for Appeal Court

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has gone to the Appeal Court in Enugu State to challenge the dismissal of its motion to stop the January 11 local government election in Anambra State.

    The case was dismissed at the Federal High Court, Awka.

    The party, which earlier backed out of the election on the grounds of fake voter register and non-publication of the list of candidates, prayed for the following reliefs:

    An order compelling the first defendant (Independent National Electoral Commission-INEC) to reverse the voter register and display same for public scrutiny.

    An order of perpetual injunction restraining the second defendant (Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission-ANSIEC) from conducting the election scheduled for January 11 or at any other date until the the issues raised in the originating summons have been addressed.

    APC also sought an order of interlocutory injunction restraining the first and second defendants, their servants, agents or privies from conducting or organising the election on January 11 or at any date pending the hearing and determination of the originating summons dated January 6.

    The party’s Interim Publicity Secretary in the state, Mr. Chukwuma Agufugo, said in a statement in Awka yesterday:

    “You are aware that the registered parties in the state, with the exception of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), agreed at the Marble Arch Hotel, Awka, on January 6, not to participate in the election.

    “Events in the state on Saturday justified our position and the indigenes complied with our decision not to take part in the election.

    “Government and ANSIEC’s show of shame has vindicated us.

    “When our party opted out, we told Nigerians that starting from a bad voter register, to non-display of the three variants of register they intend to use and non-publication of the names of candidates, ANSIEC was poised to rig the election.

    “What was witnessed on Saturday- absence of electoral officials and materials in 90 per cent of the booths, late arrival of same in the few wards without result sheets, meant the selection process was concluded days before Anambra people were called out.

    “We wish to inform candidates, aspirants and opposition parties that we are heading for the Appeal Court to get this undemocratic misdemeanour corrected.”

  • Benue lawmaker joins APC

    Benue lawmaker joins APC

    The lawmaker representing Makurdi/ Guma in the House of Representatives, Emmanuel Jime, has joined the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Speaking to supporters in Makurdi yesterday, he said: “The decision I am going to take will shape the Benue political landscape.

    “Some of you will be willing to tow the path, some will not.

    “I have called you to tell you that I appreciate your support over the years. I have consulted broadly and I have decided to align with the conversation Nigerians are holding.

    “To this end, I have this sacrifice to make, so that we can actualise our ambition on a different platform.

    “By the time we resume plenary in Abuja, many of my colleagues and I will join the APC.

    “I enjoin you to ponder over it and those willing to make this sacrifice with me should prepare to embrace the new path towards realising our dream for a forward Benue.”

  • Party elects interim exco

    Party elects interim exco

    THE All Progressives Congress (APC) in Jigawa State yesterday elected its interim executive members.

    Badaru Abubakar was elected the interim chairman, Ibrahim Hassan Hadeja (secretary) and Faruk Adamu Aliyu will serve as treasurer.

    Other officers are: Nasiru Garba Dantiye (organising secretary) and Malam Murtala Abubakar Taura (public relations officer).

  • ‘PDP can’t retain power in 2015’

    ‘PDP can’t retain power in 2015’

    Alhaji Umar Duhu is the All Progressives Congress (APC) Interim National Vice Chairman (Northeast). He spoke with Correspondent Vincent Ohonbamu in Gombe, the capital of Gombe State, on the Jonathan administration, the 2015 polls and other partian issues, shortly after inaugurating the state’s Interim Working Committee.

    WhAT is your mission in Gombe? My purpose of coming to Gombe this afternoon is to formally inaugurate the Interim State Working Committee, which will run the affairs of our party between now and the time we will conduct our congresses. The members of the committee are to oversee the affairs of the party and liaise with the registration committees from the national headquarters. They will work hand in hand to ensure that all eligible, enthusiastic and prospective members of the APC are registered so that they can participate in our congresses, which will commence with the national convention of the party.

    Gombe is a PDP state. What is the chance of the APC here?

    Our chances are 75/25 because we believe the entire Northeast region is solidly behind the APC and, from the foregoing, you can see that we have three governments controlled by the APC. And the former governor of the state, who handed over to Dankwambo, has formerly declared for the APC. So, we are so confident that, with the structure he has on ground, vis-a-vis the legacy party structures that were on ground before, we have the highest chance of winning election in Gombe State. By and large, we will also deliver Gombe State to the presidential candidate of the APC, come rain, come shine.

    When precisely is the membership registration taking place?

    Our registration will start by February and, if it finishes within that month, we will immediately after the registration start the ward congresses. I mean we will start from the units, the wards, local governments, state congress and then, the national convention. So, we intend to finish everything by the end of March.

    Do you have any message for the admirers of the APC?

    Well,s my advice to them is to be law abiding and to continue to play it according to the rules so that we don’t castigate people because we are in different political parties. They should also criticise based on ideas, based on suggestions, so that the sitting governor can sit up and deliver the dividends of democracy to the citizenry. We are not out to insult His Excellency; he is man of repute, he is a governor in his own right and a leader by statute. So, we’ll continue to respect him, until such a time we’ll defeat him politically at the polls. That is our mission and we intend to do that. We will not insult him; he is the governor. But the APC will definitely give him a fight for his money come rain, come shine and we will defeat him insha Allah

    What is the grouse of the APC against the Presidency?

    The man, as our leader rightly said, is still a kindergarten President. He is still learning, he has not taken Nigeria as a constituent. He has become more of a sectional leader. That is why people look at him and point fingers in his eyes and say look, Mr. President, you are not doing the right thing. So, I can allude to the fact that the man is not a leader that Nigerians will appreciate because the sufferings being inflicted on the majority of the citizenry have made Nigerians to begin to doubt the sincerity of the President. He is not perceived as the President of Nigeria. Rather, he is perceived as a sectional leader; he is sentimental in his judgement. He has forgotten that he was made the President by the common man. And at the same time, I will tell you that President Jonathan, if I am to score him, I will score him 15 percent because he has done nothing significant to suggest that he is the President of Nigeria, considering the colossal sums of money that Nigeria has made over the years. The regime has continued to condone impunity and it has been able to shield fraudulent public officers. I don’t know by whatever means, but he is the President that has given them the protection. So, they continue to steal our money with impunity.

    So, what advice do you have for him?

    I think, if he doesn’t sit up, he should resign or we will force the National Assembly to impeach him.

    Information reaching us tends to suggest that the the APC is factionalised in Gombe. What is the true position?

    All the members of the legacy parties are here with me at this inauguration. Behind me is my national officer from the party representing Gombe State in the interim national executive of the party. All the chairmen of the legacy parties are outside there. It’s just that some of our national leaders were coming from Abuja and you know what politics is all about. They blocked the runway. So, their aircraft could not land. But, we are not deterred, despite all odds, despite all the threats. I’ve been sent so many threats that if I come, they will kill me. But, I said, let me come and I will face them fire for fire. I am here, I have inaugurated successfully this committee. I am taking my leave and by God’s grace, nothing will happen to me and nothing will happen to any citizen of Gombe State because we are law abiding and we believe in God. It is God that gives and takes away power from whom He so desires at the time He wants

    A faction of the party led by Abubakar Aliyu is accusing Sen. Danjuma Goje of hijacking the party hierarchy. What do you have to say?

    I can assure you that there is no faction in thec Gombe APC. Apart from Abubakar Aliyu, who made that statement, other members of the party are here. The state party leaders are here. The members of the PDP that merged with the APC are here. So, who is the other person that you are talking about? If Abubakar Aliyu is working for the incumbent government, he should go and work for the incumbent government or resign from the APC and go and work for the government. He cannot be in government and also feel that he is in the APC. We will not tolerate that. The party is going to be very decisive; we’ll take decisive action against party members that are standing on the fence, that cannot decide whether they should be in the APC or the PDP. You cannot be in two political parties at the same time. It is either you are here or you are there.

    Could you shed light on the APC reconciliation in Gombe?

    I will tell you that, if our members are fighting, they will not be pressent at this inauguration. So, I don’t know where the problem is coming from. You are trying to create problem out of noting. I can assure you that, in Gombe APC, there is no faction. I am confident about that. There is no faction in Gombe APC ,as far as I am concerned. And anybody that has anything to say, we now have the leadership. Let him complain to the leadership. They should channel it to the leadership and the leadership will address it. Where it fails, then, we will step in as national officers of the party.

    Can the APC dislodge the PDP in 2015?

    I am highly confident that come rain, come shine, the APC will seize power from the incumbent. And, like I told you, we have respect for leaders. He (Dankwambo) is a governor in his own right. We will not castigate him. What we will do is to criticise him constructively and make sure that people understand where he is lacking and what we intend to do to capitalise on his lapses. The APC will spread the dividends of democracy. We was the local people at the grassroots to have a sense of belonging. We wants them to participate in the leadership of his country. We wants to give them voice in the state. We want them to drive development at the local level. The APC wants to make them proud as Nigerians.

     

  • ‘Me, defect to Accord Party? Never’ – Amosun

    ‘Me, defect to Accord Party? Never’ – Amosun

    Governor of Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State has dismissed suggestions that he might be on his way to the Accord Party (AP).

    He also says he will rather run a government whose achievements are visible for all to see than a government on billboards.

    The governor at an interactive session with reporters in Abeokuta on Friday night said that he could only endear himself to people of the State by continually putting in place, structures that would transform positively their socio – economic status among others and not by posting his posters all over the place or allow the state – owned radio or television station to be used to sing the government praises.

    He warned employees of the state owned television, OGTV, to jettison such unprofessional practice, which he said, was not representing him or the state well.

    Governor Amosun denied that he planned to defect from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to Accord Party (AP) floated by the former Governor of Oyo State, Rashidi Ladoja.

    He expressed shock at reports that he would move over to the AP should his alleged rift with former governor Olusegun Osoba rob him of a second term ticket in APC.

    Amosun said, “They said I was in Ibadan to see Ladoja on how I’m going to move to Accord Party because they (APC) are not going to give me ticket and I begin to wonder.

    “In fact, I think the last time I met Ladoja was when (Governor Abiola) Ajimobi was burying his mother. He (Ladoja) came to greet me. Is it me that will go to another party? So, when they begin to say that, I just think it is just one politician that is using them.”