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  • Rep blasts PDP over call on INEC to declare seats vacant

    Rep blasts PDP over call on INEC to declare seats vacant

    A member of the House of Representatives, Dr. Ali Ahmad, has blasted the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over its call on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to declare the seats of former members of the party who recently defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Ahmad, who is the Chairman, House Committee on Judiciary, urged his former party to respect the Constitution and court judgment.

    Describing PDP as a lawless party that has no respect for the Constitution, Ahmad in a chat with reporters at the weekend in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, added, “We went to court knowing that PDP is a lawless party. They do not respect the Constitution.”

    Ahmad, a former University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) law teacher added, “Let them (PDP leaders) bother to read the Constitution. The Constitution says a legislator would lose his seat if he defects, but he would not lose in two circumstances: one, if there is a faction or division or if there is a merger between one faction of a party and the other faction.

    “You see the PDP, they cherry-pick, once it suits them, they interpret a court order to their advantage; if it doesn’t, rather than appeal or seek another judicial interpretation, they interpret it weirdly and act on it, because they have control on use of legal force.

    “I am not talking academically; we have seen it during the Oyinlola judgment in the Court of Appeal. Even the court of first instance ruled that Oyinlola is the Secretary of PDP. The day after, they interpreted it somehow and suspended him thereby rendering the court’s judgment nugatory.

    “In this instance, the court said the second and third defendants, who are the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives, are restrained; that the status quo should be maintained especially with regard to these two defendants concerning any attempt to declare the seats of the plaintiffs vacant.

    “And even if the court said the parties should maintain the status quo. Parties should maintain the status quo, full stop. No. It is not a status quo in general. It is specific. It says status quo with regards to declaring the seats of the plaintiffs vacant.”

  • What holds PDP together is melting at the core, says Osun APC

    What holds PDP together is melting at the core, says Osun APC

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State has declared that the wind of change blowing in the PDP will “dismantle the political culture of graft, corruption and impunity in governance,” which it says the party represents since its assumption of power in 1999.

    Reacting to the defection of 37 PDP members of the House of Representatives to the APC, the party said it welcomed it as a “unique situation which will resonate throughout the country and cripple the forces of retrogression that have been at the core of the country’s descent into a banana republic.”

    The Osun APC’s Director of Publicity, Research and Strategy, Kunle Oyatomi, said in a statement in Osogbo that “it will be a costly error for anybody to reduce this event to a sheer struggle for political power.”

    He said: “A force perhaps beyond our comprehension has struck at the monstrous head of evil in Nigeria right there in Abuja which will cause the PDP house built on sand to collapse with a thunderous sound.

    “Things cannot be the same anymore with the ruling party because what held it together has melted from its own heat – corruption, graft, mismanagement of funds and total misrule of Nigeria.”

    He accused the PDP of “ utter misuse of illegitimate violence to muzzle dissent and terrorise opposition parties, rig elections and frustrate the will of the majority of our people, as a crime that is playing out with impunity in several states.”

  • APC warns ‘rebel Speaker’ in Rivers

    APC warns ‘rebel Speaker’ in Rivers

    Desist from further parading yourself as the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly or risk spending your Christmas in the prison!”

    Th at was the warning issued, during the week, by the Rivers State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the leader of the six rebel lawmakers in the state, Hon. Evans Bipi.

    In a statement issued in Port-Harcourt at the weekend, the APC Interim State Chairman, Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, said: “Hon. Bipi is obviously playing with fire as he has been barred from parading himself as Speaker by a court of competent jurisdiction. The order of the High Court of Rivers State, Ahoada Judicial Division given on Monday, December 16, 2013, is unequivocal. He should also note that none of his undemocratic sponsors will come to his aid when he is committed to prison.

    Ikanya also used the opportunity to congratulate the authentic Speaker and leader of the 25 loyal lawmakers, Rt. Hon. Otelemaba Amachree, for his court victory.

  • APC has taken the right step- Obasanjo

    APC has taken the right step- Obasanjo

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has said that the All Progressives Congress (APC) has taken the first step in the right direction towards making Nigeria great again.

    Obasajo stated this on Saturday when he met with leaders and governors of  the APC on Saturday evening  at his residence in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

    The meeting is said to be in continuation of their consultations  on political developments in the country. The APC leaders including  of the Interim National Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande, its National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, Senator Bukola Saraki, Kwara State Governor, Abdulfatai Ahmed, Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso(Kano) and Mutala Nyako (Adamawa) drove into Obasanjo’s mansion on Segun Osoba Hill – Top by 5:50pm in convoy.

    General Mohammadu Buhari, three – time presidential contestant, arrived Obasanjo home, the venue of what was described as a “high – powered meeting of an equally high powered coalition of progressive forces,” by 5:56pm on Saturday.

    Governor Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers) who drove himself with Mallam Nasir El – Rufai on the passenger seat, arrived by 5:59pm and followed closely by Governors Abiola Ajimobi(Oyo) and Babatunde Fashola(Lagos).

    Few minutes earlier around 5:23pm, a convoy of three jeeps including the one marked Lagos JJJ 956BQ and carrying Chief Femi Fani – Kayode and former Anti – graft Czar, Mr Nuhu NRibadu  arrived the venue.

    Others attending the meeting  are APC Interim Spokesperson, Alh. Lai Mohammed, former Deputy Governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) in Ogun(2011), Mr Tunde Oladunjoye, former Governor of Borno State, Alimodu Sheriff  and  Bob Effiong.

    The Progressive governors and the APC leaders who arrived Abeokuta by noon earlier met with the State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, at the Government House, Isale – Egbein, Abeokuta where they  deliberated for hours before proceeding to Obasanjo’s  home.

  • APC asks Bipi to stop parading himself as Speaker

    The All Progressives Congress (APC), Rivers State chapter, yesterday warned the self-acclaimed Speaker of the House of Assembly, Evans Bipi, to stop parading himself as the helmsman or risk spending Christmas in prison.

    APC’s Interim Chairman, Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, through his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Public Affairs, Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, asked Bipi and five other lawmakers opposed to Governor Amaechi to stop heating up the polity.

    The High Court sitting in Ahoada, presided over by Justice Charles Wali, on Monday restrained Bipi, who represents Ogu/Bolo, from parading himself as the Speaker.

    The factional Speaker, however, said he would never obey a “kangaroo” court order, while the Chief Felix Obuah-led Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) declared that Bipi remains the Speaker.

    APC said: “Bipi is playing with fire, as he has been barred from parading himself as the Speaker by a court of competent jurisdiction. The order of the High Court, given on December 16, is unequivocal.

    “He (Bipi) should also note that none of his undemocratic sponsors will come to his aid when he is committed to prison.

    “His Lordship, Justice C. N. Wali, in his judgment, did not only bar Bipi, but also declared that we have one House of Assembly, under the leadership of Otelemaba Amachree.

    “We expect the rebel lawmakers to fall in line and respect the leadership of the House, to avoid further heating up the polity. They should come to terms with the fact that their plot has fallen like a pack of cards.”

    The interim chairman of the main opposition party also described as an abomination, the attempt by Bipi to desecrate the temple of justice by treating the declaration of the Ahoada High Court with contempt.

    Ikanya congratulated Amachree on his victory, which he said re-confirmed him, the leader of the 25 loyal lawmakers, as the rightful helmsman of the Assembly.

  • APC now in majority as 37 Reps defect from PDP

    APC now in majority as 37 Reps defect from PDP

    A major political tremor hit the House of Representatives yesterday, with 37 members of the new Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) defecting to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The APC is now in the majority. It has 171 members. The PDP, hitherto in the majority with 208 members, is in the minority, with 167 members.

    A letter by the intending defectors was first read by the Speaker, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, to the members in the Chamber.

    The December 18 letter is titled: “Communication of Change of Political Party”, addressed to the Speaker.

    “We, the undersigned members of the House of Representatives elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), wish to inform you that we have joined the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    “This action is as a result of the division/faction in the political party that sponsored our election into the House of Representatives. (see House Resolution No: HR/36/2013, vide votes and proceedings of Tuesday, 17 September, 2013 as attached).

    “Furthermore, we write to inform you that following this division, the faction of the PDP, which we belong to, has formally merged with the All Progressives Congress, APC.

    “This communication is made pursuant to Section 68(1)(g) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, for your information, guidance and records, please.

    In all, 11 members from Kano, Sokoto (10), Rivers (eight), Kwara (six) and one each from Katsina and Bauchi defected to the APC.

    From Kano State are: Nasir G. Sule, Ahmad A. Zarewa, Aliyu Sani Madaki, Bashir Babale, Alhassan Ado, Munir Dan’ Agundi, Aminu Suleiman, Abudulmumin Jibrin, Musa Ado, Musthapha Bala and Mukthari Mohammed.

    Those from Sokoto State are: Kabiru Marafa Achida, Aminu Shagari, Isa Salihipu Bashir, Abdulahi Mohammed Wamako, Saadu Nabunkari, Aliyu Shehu, Shuaibu Gobir, Musa Sarkin-Adar , Abdullahi Balarabe and Umar Bature.

    From Rivers State are: Andrew Uchendu, Asita Honourable, Sokonte Davies, Dakuku Peterside, Mpigi Barinada, Pronen Maurice, Dawari George and Ogbonna Nwuke.

    Kwara State has on its list: Ali Ahmad, Rafiu Ibrahim Adebayo, Aiyedun Akeem Olayinka, Mustafa Moshood, Aliyu Ahman- Pategi and Zakari Mohammed.

    Two other members, Nasiru Sani from Katsina State and Yakubu Dogara from Bauchi, were also on the list.

    They all wrote their names in their handwriting and signed with the proviso at the top of the pages that states: “ We the undersigned hereby certify that we have perfected all arrangements to move from PDP to APC, today 28 November, 2013”, showing that the defection had been planned for an earlier date.

    The announcement of the defection was greeted with a roar by members in applause from the APC members and protestation from the PDP members.

    The names of the defecting members were read out by the Speaker. Thereafter, all the members involved filed out amidst the ovation. Led by the leader of the opposition, Femi Gbajabiamila, they went to shake hands with the Speaker.

    There were shouts of “APC! APC! APC!”. PDP members on the floor also countered with shouts of “ PDP! PDP! PDP!” as they tried to outshine their APC counterparts.

    Old APC members in the House then went round the chamber, shaking hands with the new members and chatting with them in groups.

    The defection by the 37 members puts an end to the speculations on their political future. It was a culmination of weeks of meetings and speculations.

    Efforts by a member, Kingsley Chinda (Rivers PDP), to get the Speaker to reverse the defection was not accepted.

    Chinda said it was sub-judice for the House to accept the defection of the members to APC as a case on the matter filed by the members themselves “is still alive and pending”.

    He urged the speaker to ensure “that they defect at the proper time”.

    “I have listened to your point and have taken note,” the Speaker rejected. That ended the matter.

    Earlier, the House said it had accepted the$ 77.5 per barrel benchmark. Tambuwal, who announced the decision after a short closed-door session, said the MTEF and benchmark issue had been finally resolved.

    A motion to allow the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, to bring the 2014 budget estimates today was also passed.

    The House also adopted the Conference Committee Report on the 2014-2016 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper.

  • Adamawa commissioners for APC

    Adamawa commissioners for APC

    Members of Adamawa Executive Council comprising Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Commissioners and Special Advisers have defected from the PDP to the APC.

    Speaking after a meeting yesterday at the Government House in Yola, the Secretary to the Government, Mr Kobis Thimnu, who spoke on behalf of the state executive council members, said their decision to join the governor to APC was a collective one.

    “We, today, unanimously decided to follow Governor Nyako to APC for good”, Thimnu said.

    He said that members of the executive council had confidence in the governor and his ability to deliver as evident in his transformation programmes in the state.

    “We shall mobilise for APC across the state. In fact, we have established offices in all the 226 wards to ensure the proper entrenchment of the party in Adamawa”, Thimnu said.

    Nyako, thanked them for the decision to join him saying the APC represented justice and fairness.

  • ‘APC’ll contest with 27 governors’

    A traditional titleholder in the Kano Emirate Council, Muhammadu Danpass, has said more governors will soon join the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    He said by 2015, APC would have 27 governors.

    Speaking to reporters in Kano, Danpass said: “G7 is still intact. It is still together. In fact, we expect more governors to join the train soon.

    “As you can see, the two governors (Niger and Jigawa), who are yet to declare for APC, would soon do so because their followers are pressurising them to do so. They know if they reject the wish of the people, especially their supporters, they would be abandoned.

    “Besides, as things are today, there are states where the governors have not declared for APC, such as Bauchi and Taraba. I believe they would soon do so, because they are naturally APC states,” he affirmed.

  • APC leaders to hoist party flag in Southeast

    Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, Senator Chris Ngige and former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees (BoT) member, Prince Benjamin Apugo, will lead other leaders of All Progressives Congress (APC) to hoist the party’s flag in the five Southeast states.

    The decision, which was reached at a meeting of the party’s Southeast leaders in Owerri, Imo State, is to harmonise APC’s stakeholders and begin mobilisation ahead of the 2015 elections.

    Onu said the party’s flag would be hoisted in the five Southeast states.

    “We are poised to mobilise our people to embrace change and kick out the PDP, which has done nothing but impoverished our people through bad governance and weak policies.”

    “We already have 16 states and we will capture more. But assuming this does not happen, we have the strength and spread to remove PDP from power. Since the advent of Nigerian politics, there has never been any strong opposition like what we have today.”

    Okorocha said PDP’s refusal to guarantee Ndigbo national positions and its failure to develop the Southeast after over a decade in power, made it imperative for him and progressive-minded Ndigbo to join APC.

    Said he: “We have come to a crucial moment in our political evolution where we cannot afford to remain in a weak and regional party, which cannot guarantee us mainstream position and leadership. Ndigbo must once again become major players in the political equation.

    “No person of Igbo extraction is guaranteed a top position in the next 25 years under the PDP structure and APGA lacks the national spread to actualise this. APC offers a better platform for us to actualise our objectives, as we are guaranteed at least one of the top positions. Our decision to join the party has yielded dividends, as nine of its 29 top positions are occupied by Ndigbo.”

    The APC leaders constituted and inaugurated an interim state executive to run affairs of the party until its officials are elected during its congress in February.

    Apugo urged the executive members to carry everyone along, to ensure that those aspiring to join the party are not discouraged.

  • Buhari, Tinubu, Akande, others meet Atiku

    Buhari, Tinubu, Akande, others meet Atiku

    Prominent leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Wednesday met with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar at his Abuja private residence.

    The APC leaders, who met with Atiku behind closed doors for over an hour, described the meeting as a continuation of the party’s consultations with past leaders and stakeholders across the nation.

    Those that met with the former vice president included the former head of state; Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), the National Leader of the APC; Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the party’s interim National Chairman; Chief Bisi Akande.

    The meeting is coming on the heels of the defection of 37 members of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the House of Representatives to the APC.

    Atiku, who spoke with journalists shortly after the meeting, said the discussions were very fruitful, stressing that he had always espoused the two party system.

    He said that he welcomed the formation of the APC, adding that he would meet with his friends and political associates with the view to taking a decision on the next line of action.

    The former Vice President stated further that the formation of the APC was healthy for the nation’s democracy, stressing that it would give the Nigerian people a credible alternative in the 2015 general elections.

    Atiku said: “We want to let you know that we had very fruitful discussions and you know I have always believed in a two party structure.

    “So I welcome the formation of APC. We have discussed extensively and I will meet with my political associates and friends.

    “Most of us have been friends and political associates for over two decades. I will call my stakeholders across the country. We will take a decision and address the press and let you know our decision.

    “I congratulated them (APC leaders) and welcomed them because it will improve competition and governance. It is healthy for our democracy.

    “Once you have one very strong party and weak ones, there is no way the opposition can check the government in power.

    “If the South Africans faced apartheid in the past, Nigeria is facing colonialism. The struggle has been long for the enthronement of democracy in our country.

    “It is time we realised we have responsibility to our generation and those yet unborn. I think it (APC) will give Nigerians an alternative during elections. So I told them I will consult with my associates and brief the press later.”

    Chief Akande, who led the parry’s delegation, said the visit was to cement a long standing political relationship with Atiku spanning more than two decades.

    “We feel that it is necessary to meet people of like minds to rise up and salvage the country. All of us that met here were comrades in politics.

    “We only met today to cement that comradeship and all is well cemented. We are moving together to work for this country,” Akande said.