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Tag: battle

  • Battle for PDP’s soul

    Battle for PDP’s soul

    The struggle for the control of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) by the various interest groups, ahead of 2019, has taken a new dimension. Assistant Editor LEKE SALAUDEEN examines the effects of the leadership crisis on the party’s future.

    After dousing the tension generated by the imposition of former Borno State Governor Ali Modu Sheriff as its National Chairman, the leadership crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is far from being resolved. Observers say the opposition party had merely postponed the evil day. Although the mandate given to Sheriff by the PDP National Executive Committee (NEC) was to organise a national convention within three months, analysts are skeptical in his ability to carry out this assignment, in view of the mounting opposition against his leadership.

    A member of the National Working Committee (NWC), who spoke in confidence, said the selection of Sheriff has further deepened the crisis. He said Sheriff’s choice has further polarised the party, with the various interest groups positioning themselves to hijack the party structure, ahead of the national convention. He said each group has intensified efforts to outwit one another in the battle of supremacy. Those that supported the emergence of Sheriff want to use him to ensure their cronies grab all positions in the new executive that will emerge from the convention. Sheriff’s antagonists have vowed to disrupt the congress, should the planning committee manipulate the selection of delegates. The source said: “You know the delegates from all over the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) will vote to appoint a new National Executive Committee (NEC). The group that has majority of the delegates would carry the day. That explains why the scheming has started in earnest. The present NEC under the leadership of Sheriff is empowered by the party’s constitution to organise congresses and national convention. His opponents prefer a neutral body to be saddled with the responsibility of organising the congresses and convention because they believe Sheriff will do things to favour those who installed him in office.

    “The fear is that we don’t want what happened during the last national convention at the Eagle Square, Abuja, to repeat itself. If you recall, the convention nearly ended in fiasco when prominent leaders of the PDP like former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Senator Bukola Saraki, Alhaji Abubakar Baraje, plus seven governors pulled out of the congress and immediately announced the formation of new PDP. That incident was very devastating to our party. It was the beginning of the process that led to the defeat of the PDP in the last general elections.”

    The PDP governors and the national caucus overwhelmingly supported Sheriff. The groups opposed to his leadership include: the PDP ministers, the PDP Rescue Group, the Restart PDP Project Group and some members of Board of Trustees (BoT).

     

    Former PDP ministers

    The PDP Ministers’ Forum is adamant on its rejection of Sheriff as the national chairman. The forum made up of ministers, who served from 1999 to 2015, reiterates its commitment to the ideals and core values of the founding principles of the party.

    The forum resolved as follows: “The forum rejects Alhaji Ali Modu Sheriff as National Chairman of the PDP due to the illegitimacy of the process that purportedly brought him in. The forum commends and supports the stand of the Board of Trustees for their rejection of the imposition of Alhaji Ali Modu Sheriff for lack of transparency and internal democracy in the process.

    “The forum calls for the conduct of congresses at all levels of the party leading to a National Convention that should be held before March 28, 2016 to return power to the people in tandem with the constitution of our party and as encapsulated in our party’s motto, ‘Power to the People’. The forum condemns all acts of impunity in the running of the affairs of the party at all levels and implores all members to respect the constitution of the party and that of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

    The ministers threatened to leave the party unless Sheriff steps down. Their spokesman and former Minister of National Planning, Dr Suleiman Abubakar, said: “Our mission has failed; the redemption boat has capsized, and our journey to recovery has come to an end. Whosoever partook in the decision does not mean well for the party and democracy in Nigeria.”

    According to Abubakar, “It is obvious that fifth columnists have hijacked the party and they are hell bent on sinking it deeper into irrecoverable level of the pit. Some of us would rather review our membership than subject ourselves to selfish interest of a cabal whose main interest is political profiteering. After all our umbilical cord is not tied to any party”. What is not clear is whether Jonathan is in support of his former minister’s position because Sheriff has been a close ally of the former President since his days in the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP).

     

    The Rescue Group

    The PDP Rescue group is the new opposition group within the party. Second Republic governor of the defunct Gongola State Mr. Wilberforce Juta leads the group. Other members include former Senate President Adolphus Wabara; former Minister of State for Power, Alhaji Mohammed Wakil; former Sokoto State Deputy Governor Mukhtar Shagari; and John Ode. Both Juta and Wakil were among the candidates for the position of chairman by the Northeast zone that was supposed to fill the vacancy. The group is also calling for Sheriff’s resignation.

    Juta said Sheriff was an imposition on the party, adding that he was never nominated from his Northeast zone. He said even the PDP chapter in Sheriff’s home state – Borno —  did not support his emergence. Juta called on the party organs to commence the search for persons with high integrity, strategic insight and fear of God to lead the party. He said the group was not happy with the decision of NEC to appoint Sheriff as it was “convinced that this decision by NEC is against the will and wish of the generality of faithful members”.

    Juta said they had resolved for an early congress and national convention to elect new leaders as the term of the current leadership is due to end in March 2016. He also warned against the extension of Sheriff’s tenure if the party must make the needed fresh beginning. He added that Sheriff lacks a model of impeccable integrity that the PDP badly needs at this critical moment.

    Senator Wabara, who is the deputy chairman of the group, said its goal is to rescue the party from imposition and impunity. He noted that the emergence of Sheriff was embarrassing as he was smuggled into the contest. He said with the present leadership, it will be difficult for the PDP to return to power in 2019.

     

    Restart PDP Project

    A group in the Diaspora called the Restart PDP Project has lent its voice to the rejection of Sheriff. The group believes his imposition will compound the party’s problems. It insists that due process was subverted in the selection of Sheriff and has promised to team up with like minds to ensure that a chairman that has charisma, that is acceptable to all is put in office.

    The spokesman of the group, Mr. Emmanuel Nwosu Butches, faulted the method employed for the selection. According to him, Sheriff is not qualified to lead the party because he is not a founding member. He cited Chapter 2 Part 1, sub section 8 and 9 of the PDP Constitution to buttress his position. “Besides, Sheriff has not been in the PDP for long to enable him understand what the party has gone through in the past 16 years,” he added.

     

    PDP Governors’ Forum

    It was an open secret that former PDP governors installed Sheriff as the interim chairman, although he was not among the candidates nominated by the Northeast zone. The nominees include Wakil, Juta, Alhaji Lawan Girgir, current National Vice Chairman (Northeast), Senator Sa’idu Kurmo and Alhaji Shehu Musa Gabam. All of them were pushed aside at a meeting of the National Caucus and NEC influenced by the governors. It was learnt that the Governors’ Forum preferred a candidate that would do their bidding. They felt that, as a former governor Sheriff will be amenable to their wishes. The ultimate goal of the group is to control the party structure, ahead of 2019.

    It was not surprising when the forum came out openly to endorse Sheriff before he was installed. In its congratulatory message, the forum expressed confidence in the ability of Sheriff to reposition the party and make it more inclusive. The governors said: “The emergence of Mr. Sheriff, ex-governor and senator, was done after careful deliberation given the battle ahead.

    “Sheriff is coming on board with immense wealth of experience and will no doubt use his vast network to rebuild the party. He will restore members’ confidence and act as a counter force to the many antics of the present APC regime. We urge you to shun all diversionary tactics that might be thrown at you and concentrate on how to bring all aggrieved party members together; as well as fashion out ways to woo new members, especially the youths. The forum is solidly behind you and will deploy its support to ensure that the shared vision of our party is realised as we prepare for 2019.”

    A chieftain of the PDP from Borno, Alhaji Shehu Mustapha, said the forum would soon realise that Sheriff is not the type of person that anybody can influence or dictate to. According to him, when Sheriff was governor and ANPP leader in Borno, he was not accessible to members of his cabinet. He took decisions based on his wisdom.

    “If the likes of Governors Ayo Fayose and Nyesom Wike believe they have found a ‘puppet chairman’ that could be easily manipulated, they would soon realise that they are living in fool’s paradise.

    “I don’t even know what they are celebrating in Sheriff. To start with, he was not the Borno candidate for the position of chairman. Our candidate was Mohammed Wakil. Again what is the electoral value of Sheriff in his home state? He was Jonathan’s political ally and promised to deliver Borno and Yobe to the PDP in the last general elections. PDP failed woefully in the two states. I wish Sheriff best of luck in his new assignment.”

     

    PDP National Convention

    Will the National Convention hold within three months as directed by the NEC? Sheriff is expected to serve out Adamu Mu’azu’s tenure. It does seem that whatever opposition may think, the national chairman will be in office for some time as he is already looking forward to conducting new congresses and national convention, which will require some time to plan. Sheriff said he does not know how long he will remain in office as that will be determined by the NEC, and that he is willing to abide by whatever NEC throws at him on that account.

    He said: “I took over this party by the grace of Allah. I am here as a national chairman of this party by the grace of all the NEC members of the party. I am here to rebuild the party. What time we need to do this job will be determined by the leaders and owners of the party when they sit down collectively to discuss. For me taking office today, I cannot tell you when I am leaving. I will only tell you when the party leaders sit down and see what is the immediate time needed to do this job, if they decide, I am ready for it.”

  • PDP crisis: Battle of the caucuses

    PDP crisis: Battle of the caucuses

    The emergence of former Governor of Borno State Ali Modu Sheriff as the chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has divided the party hierarchy. MUSA ODOSHIMOKHE examines its implications for the party.

    The recent appointment of Senator Ali Modu Sheriff as the substantive National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has factionalised the leadership of the party.

    Sheriff was endorsed for the position by the PDP Governors Forum and ratified by the National Working Committee.

    The crisis generated by his emergency is affecting the cohesion of the party and ability to play its role as the main opposition to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Since the party was defeated in the 2015 general elections, there have been accusations and counters accusations from one quarter or the other for the defeat. The blame game was equally extended to the succession process in the party.

    Though PDP faced succession challenge in the past, it was able to manage it being the party in power and the enormous resources at its disposal. The then ruling PDP ensured that members toe party line. Those who refused to obey were expelled from the party.

    With the PDP under the watch of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, those who emerged as the party chairmen were influence by him. It was easy for the party to put its act together, especially when the President showed the commitment.

    The resignation of the party’s former chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, however, after the election became the testing moments the party which was no longer in control of power.

    Alhaji Mu’azu from the Northeast was billed to pilot the affairs of the party till March this year, but was cut short due to internal wrangling. This resulted in the emergence of Prince Uche Secondus from the South South as acting chairman.

    As a result of this, the party hierarchy was divided as stakeholders from the Northeast insisted that someone from the region must completed tenure of Alhaji Mu’azu. Party faithful from the Northeast zone questioned Secondus’s stay in office, in contravention to the provision of the party constitution.

    For instance, when Chief Vincent Ogbulafor from Abia State resigned the position, he was replaced by Chief Okwesileze Nwodo from the Southeast. When Chief Bamanga Tukur from Adamawa State resigned his position, it was taken by Mu’azu from the same region.

    Scecondu was grappling with acceptability crisis when a court injunction obtained by PDP stalwart Ahmed Gulak to restrain Secondus grounded his mandate to ensure the stability of the party.  Gulak got a court ruling to invalidate the Secondus’s appointment and went ahead to declare himself the chairman of the party.

    It was in a bid to save the party from the unfolding internal strife that the PDP Governors Forum with other stakeholders chose Sheriff to pilot the affairs of the party. The decision was roundly rejected by the party’s Board of Trustee (BoT), the forum of former PDP Ministers, led by Hon. Taminu Turaki, PDP Rescue Group, led by Ambassador Wilberforce Juta.

    An emergency meeting attended by the Governors Forum,  the National Working Committee (NWC) and the National Assembly caucus was summoned during the week to resolve the crisis that followed the announcement of Sheriff. They resolved that Sheriff should lead the party for three months and position for the coming national convention.

    The governors were against any act that would amount to disgracing Sheriff out of office. They resolved that since they were the ones who presented him for the position, it was incumbent on them to shield him from disgraced.

    Some of the governors present at the meeting were chairman of the Governors Forum,  Segun Mimiko (Ondo), Nyesom Wike (Rivers) and Ayodele Fayose (Ekiti).

    Defending the embattled chairman, Mimiko said all the organs of the party agreed to accept Sheriff’s leadership and cooperate with him to conduct a credible national convention within three months.

    He said: “We are all aware of the controversy generated by the appointment of our new national chairman. In view of the recent development in our party, I want to let you know that all the organs of the party, the governors, National Assembly caucus and BoT agreed to stand by our national chairman to ensure that our party moves forward.”

    The BoT chairman, Senator Walid Jibrin, who was present at the meeting, thanked the governors for their concern and resolution. But, at another meeting under the auspices of the PDP ex-Ministers Forum, the governors’ resolution was rejected.

    The chairman of the forum, Turaki, said the three months of grace extended to Sheriff was unacceptable. He said the process that produced Sheriff was dictatorial. “The forum rejects Senator Modu Sheriff due to the illegitimacy of the process that purportedly produced him.”

    The forum maintained that it would take legal action to stop the chairman. Buttressing the stance of the former ministers, former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, said he will continue to challenge the leadership of the PDP by Senator Sheriff.  He expressed disappointment that some people were foisting him on the party.

    According to him, the leadership of PDP under Sheriff would compound the party’s credibility challenge, making allusion to Sheriff’s alleged link to Boko Haram sponsorship in the past.

    Responding to the call for his resignation, however, Sheriff said his mandate was to reposition the party. He called on those linking him to the dreaded terrorist group to prove their claims.  He said he will not bow to pressure from some sections of the party calling for his resignation and enjoined aggrieved members to work with him to reposition the party ahead of the 2019 general elections.

    He said his resignation would not be in the interest of the party as he was in a vantage position to make the party stronger.  Sheriff said the task of repositioning the party was sacrosanct, noting that the people at the grassroots were the owners of the party.  He said: “The era where just a few people dictate how the party should be run is over.”

    The battle for the soul of PDP may be tabled before Dr. Jonathan. Being the immediate past National leader of the party, his input in resolving the crisis would count.  Some members had threatened to defect to other parties if Sheriff remains adamant. The chairman of the opposition to Sheriff planned to see former President Goodluck Jonathan, where they will tell him to reject Sheriff.

    The anti-Sheriff team will inform the former President of the grave implication of retaining Sheriff for the job beyond its deadline.  A party source said: “We believe the ex-President was ill-informed about the choice of Sheriff. We want him to withdraw his backing so that Sheriff can step aside in March. “We are not happy that someone with such a record that (allegedly) linked him with Boko Haram is leading our party. This is not good for PDP and we will not be taken seriously now that we a battling to bounce back.”

    “Some of us made it known that we cannot even wait till end of March to determine our stay in the PDP; once Sheriff is in charge, we will abandon PDP for another party,” the source maintained.

    Sheriff had not envisaged opposition of this magnitude when he went into a secret agreement with those who worked for his emergence.  The source said Sheriff was already strategising on how he would retain office till 2018, when the PDP will be in good position to confront the APC at the poll in 2019.  But his plans to reposition the party are not likely to see the light of the day because the party is divided over his tenure.

    PDP House of Representatives member, Hon. Bitrus Kaze, said it would be difficult to achieve any genuine reconciliation in the PDP. According to him, it is very tough to build things, but easy to destroy. “I doubt if anything meaningful can be done in the short space of time allocated to Sheriff.  Another thing is that the emergence of Sheriff itself is another problem. I do not see him putting back the party on track because of the controversy surrounding his emergence.”

    There are strong indications that party will shrink if no genuine and acceptable medium to resolve the crisis is reached.  Analyst says if those who threatened to quit carry out their decision, it means that the plans to make PDP stronger ahead of 2019 general election would end as mere wish.

    The party had lost a good number of its member to the APC and efforts to reverse the trend have not succeeded. The PDP that had prided itself as the largest in Africa will be counting losses if adequate attention is not given to the issue at stake.

  • Unending battle for the soul of Cross River PDP

    Unending battle for the soul of Cross River PDP

    The exit of ex-Governor Liyel Imoke from office has thrown up a new twist in the battle for the soul of Cross River State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), reports Assistant Editor, Remi Adelowo

    Still reeling from the shock of the recent mass defection of some of its key members to the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Cross River State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is silently contending with a fresh crisis, impeccable sources have revealed.

    The state governor, Prof. Ben Ayade, and the Senator representing the Central Senatorial District in the National Assembly, John Owan Enoh, are alleged to be at daggers drawn over the soul of the party in the state, with the personality clash said to have polarised the party’s executive council and the state cabinet.

    This is happening on the heels of the defection of former Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma Egba (SAN), who led over 1,000 PDP chieftains, including a former governor of the state, Chief Clement Ebri, a former Senator, Bassey Etu, former representative of Cross River State on the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Mr. Paul Adah, an ex-PDP state chairman, Ambassador Soni Abang, a former governorship aspirant of the PDP, Mr. Goddy Jedy-Agba, a former Labour Party (LP) governorship candidate, Mr. Fidelis Ugbo, a PDP governorship aspirant in the last election, amongst several others to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    They were received by the National Chairman of the ruling party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, at a well attended event which literally shut down Calabar, the Cross River State capital.

    The defection, which took place on February 13, was just a mere formality as the former PDP chieftains had broken ranks with the former ruling party, following the acrimony that trailed the party’s primaries for governorship and National Assembly seats.

    While the then governor, Liyel Imoke, had favoured Ayade to succeed him to the displeasure of other notable aspirants, including Jeddy Agba and Ugbo, he also opted for John Enoh as replacement for Ndoma Egba, who wanted a fourth term ticket to the Senate.

    Incessant complaints by the aggrieved parties, coupled with the several interventions by the Presidency, former Senate President, David Mark and the national leadership of the PDP failed to sway Imoke to shift ground. Eventually, the former governor had his way. From that point, the PDP in the state became badly fractured. The climax of the disaffection by those disenchanted led to their defection to the APC about two weeks ago.

    The new twist

    With Ndoma Egba, Ebri and others out of PDP, a fresh battle for the soul of the party in the state has ensued, this time between the incumbent governor, Ben Ayade and Senator John Enoh.

    The governor, according to sources, is allegedly peeved that the lawmaker is surreptitiously plotting to take control of the state PDP in order to undermine his administration and scuttle his alleged second term ambition in 2019. Enoh, it was alleged, has his eyes on the governorship in the next three years and is already putting necessary structures in place to actualise his plan.

    A source said: “In the last few months, not a few PDP members in the state, comprising of exco members and members of the House of Assembly have been accusing the governor of underfunding the party. Commissioners are also not left out. They are not happy with their salaries put at N250, 000. These commissioners are leaders in their respective constituencies and need funds to oil the machinery of the party, otherwise they may find it hard to remain loyal to the governor, who is likely to run for a second term come 2019.”

    Enoh steps in

    Sources disclosed that it was this seeming lacuna that Enoh decided to fill by quietly funding the party, while also reaching out to some commissioners and other key chieftains of the party in the state who are allegedly broke and are desperately looking for financial bailout.

    Enoh, it is believed, has deep pocket to fund the party without breaking sweat. Until his election into the Senate where he is currently the Chairman, Committee on Finance, he was an influential member, three term member of the House of Representatives and the Chairman, Committee on Appropriation for two terms.

    Ayade plots counter move

    Relying on intelligence report that his control of the state PDP is being seriously challenged by Enoh, the governor is alleged to be plotting his counter moves to cut the senator to size. One of such moves, sources say, is the likely sack of commissioners in the cabinet, whose loyalty to Enoh has been established.

    However, sources say the governor is not willing to bow to the demands of aggrieved party members for more funding, arguing that the “current financial position of the state cannot accommodate such luxury at this period.”

    Imoke remains neutral

    As Ayade and Enoh allegedly make moves and counter-moves to outwit each other, The Nation gathered that the immediate past governor, Liyel Imoke, has refused to take sides, preferring to stay neutral, because according to a source, the two warring parties are his close political associates.

    The former governor has also rebuffed entreaties from concerned party members to initiate reconciliatory moves, since according to him, what is playing out between Ayade and Enoh is a “mere disagreement” that has been blown out of proportion by “external forces.”

    As this battle for the soul of the state PDP intensifies, it remains to be seen who between the governor and the senator would emerge victorious.

  • Battle for consumers’ pocket

    Battle for consumers’ pocket

    The competition in the retail market has become intense, with price discrimination being used to attract patronage. This trend may continue for a long time given the harsh economic climate. And with retailers struggling to make good sales, and consumers determined to ensure they get value for their money, the real competition may just have begun. Who will be the bigger beneficiary? TONIA ‘DIYAN asks.

    Rapheal Chukwuma, a young Nigerian in his mid-20s,  likes to look trendy. His reason for this can be traced to his young uncle whom he grew up with. “The way you dress is the way you are addressed,” is a regular phrase his uncle used for him. But looking trendy comes at a price.

    This is why Chukwuma, a young and unemployed graduate, takes his time to window shop for best prices  before making purchases from the stipends he gets as allowance from his uncle as well as occasional tips from running errands for older people in his neighbourhood. He, therefore, structures his shopping around clearance sales or promotional sales periods when goods, which ordinarily he couldn’t have been able to afford, are sold at discounted prices.

    “I notice a 40 to 50 per cent reduction on items at Mr. P,” said Chukwuma, who explained that he  noticed price reduction on items at Ruff ‘n’ Tumble, Cash ‘n’ Carry and Life mate in recent weeks.

    Realising that price is the number one factor consumers consider when shopping, retailers are now evolving more strategies to outwit themselves. One of such is the introduction of several rounds of price cuts, especially on competing items. This development has made the retail market literarily become a theatre of price war, as the contest for shoppers’ pocket intensifies among retailers.

    The retailers, determined to remain competitive and avoid losing sales, are offering mouth-watering and irresistible discounts to existing and prospective customers. This is why some retailers have already taken their prices to an all time low, leaving competitors in the cold as they brace up with the need to adjust their price tags in favour of price conscious shoppers.

    Checks by The Nation Shopping revealed that the competition cuts across virtually all sectors in the retail segment. For instance, contenders in the clothing sector seek to win back budget-minded customers who have migrated to discounting shops such as Mr. Price and Mango, who recently started lowering the prices of selected items and giving out 50 per cent discounts on its items purchased.

    Max store is also launching what is called a ‘significant’ reduction in prices of all items. It said the decision to slash prices is to satisfy their old customers and make new ones. Similarly, Red Tag offers discounts on several of its products. For instance, a plain designer Polo shirt with small logo which sold for N8000 in the store now sells for N4, 000. A striped collar polo shirt used to be N4, 995; it is now N3, 245. A single breasted suit was N24, 495; it now sells for N14, 995.

    Accessories 2 die 4, situated in most of the Lagos malls, is offering 10 per cent discounts on all gifts items at the store. Grocery chains are doing much the same. Shoprite is giving a face-lift to its price structure and customer reward programme to grab back market share from competitors, such as Super Saver, Justrite, The Bazaar and Grocery Bazaar, who are its major contenders in grocery business. It has also lowered the prices of perishables and products that are among the most purchased items in its shelf.

    In the Home and Furniture section, there is a renewed effort that seeks to win back budget-minded customers who have migrated to outfits known to give good discounts like Lifemate and Bedmate, who recently lowered the prices of over 7, 000 items on its kitty and still discounting it. Also, Sixth Sense, another furniture outfit, has launched what it called a ‘significant’ reduction in prices of often-purchased items, saying the decision is to satisfy customers and possibly entice new ones.

    The General Manager, West Africa, Mr Price, David Botha, said his store has stepped up its game to satisfy customers at this time of the year leading to its slashing of prices with generous discounts. Adducing reasons for this development, Botha explained that the strategy will help the store sell all old stocks to allow new ones come in. “We also want our customers and prospective customers to experience sales of cheap but quality items, which we always make available. We encourage shoppers to buy from our store today instead of our competitor’s website or store tomorrow,” he said.

    Explaining the rationale behind this development, the former Centre Manager of Leisure Mall, Surulere, Lagos, Mrs Debola Majekodunmi, revealed that retailers have been lowering prices because they are aware that the consumer is price-conscious.

    Another Centre Manager of one of the Lagos malls, Sander Norman, explained that retailers decided to lower prices because they were aware that the consumer is also price-conscious and because it is one of their many strategies to improve sales at strategic times. “Price reduction has to do with timing, planning and sacrifice; being ready to give out at cost price or below cost price most times,” he said.

    Sander cited Shoprite, saying that the store is priced about three per cent below the other grocery retail, and that is one reason it has gained a fraction of a point in market share since it entered the country in 2005 at the Palm in Lekki, Lagos, where it tops the grocery market.

    Investigations by The Nation Shopping show that retailers who refused to be part of this strategy are likely to experience a drop in demand and low sales. This is so because price conscious shoppers are already moving to discounters or are purchasing less-expensive items from such stores as substitute for items they are used to buying or would like to patronise.

    Some retailers have already taken their prices to an all time low, leaving competitors in the cold as they brace up with the need to adjust their price tags in favour of price conscious shoppers. A retail analyst, Modupe Shopeju, attested to the fact that price is the number one factor consumers consider when they pick where to shop. According to her, it is the reason why more people are found in shopping places during promotional periods. “People actually look forward to times like this to make the best of it. Some save towards sales period, some follow the trend and are able to know when sales are on, some do constant check on items in-store to find out if these items are discounted aside finding out what is trendy or new in the market,” she explained.

    And shoppers are happier for this trend. “It is encouraging,” said Adewale Odunayo, a shopper, who bought dress shirts from Mango store. He thinks it is best to wait for a time like this to shop. “I am enjoying every bit of shopping at this season. For instance, a David Wej shirt sells for N6, 500 but its price has dropped to N5, 955, thereby saving N505. The ongoing price slash made me buy more shirts than I planned to buy, he added.

    Even online stores woo customers daily with price changes to teach their ‘brick-and-mortar’ (traditional retail shops) competitors the need to use price intelligence solutions if they want to compete. Savvy retailers also monitor their online competitors’ prices daily to remain competitive and avoid losing sales.

    Yet, there are fears around this trend. Maku Oladele, who sells baby items at Alade Market in Ikeja, Lagos, confirmed this. He explained that the price war has become a permanent feature in the retail segment such that there has been one price war after another without making profit. For this reason, she submits that the trend may be very difficult to sustain.

    And some of these price wars are deliberately induced. Oladele revealed that big retailers seem  prepared for price battles as conventional festivals, such as Christmas and Valentine’s Day are no longer enough to keep up with the demand for discounts, so they create event out of nothing, just to initiate new price wars. This, she warns, may soon become a battle for survival for small retailers, most of who aren’t making much profit.

    Behavioural economists say promotions have a huge effect on the consumer. And that more than 40 per cent of groceries are bought on special offer, so regardless of what’s on a shopping list, the consumer ends up buying items on special offers. That means what the customer buys is always cheaper, or at least, not much more expensive than it would have been elsewhere.

    According to players in the industry, promotions appear more about point scoring against competitors than engaging with customers and their needs.

    Whether the trend gives good returns to the retailer is obviously not a concern for the shoppers, who is only interested in retailers offering the best quality at the lowest prices.

  • Battle against filth begins

    Battle against filth begins

    After launching the President Muhammadu Buhari administration’s anti-graft campaign, filth is the next target, beginning from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), GBENGA OMOKHUNU reports

    Some have said the President Muhammadu Buhari administration has its work cut out against corruption, but the government is showing no signs of fatigue. It has declared another war against filth, to be observed every last Saturday of the month. The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has launched a full-scale campaign against rubbish, with several ministers and top government officials playing a role. It has been dubbed a return to President Buhari’s sanitary methods in the early 80s. And it was for good reason, for, since then, the country has become increasingly dirty, having jettisoned the monthly clean-up exercise then General Buhari initiated when he was Head of State.

    Most area councils in the FCT are dirty, prompting the Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello to start the FCT Household and Community Sanitation Exercise at Kuje, headquarters of the Kuje Area Council. With him were the Minister of Environment, Hajiya Amina Mohammed,  Minister of State, Environment, Alhaji Usman Jubril, representative of the Minister of Health, FCT Permanent Secretary, Dr. Babatope Ajakaiye, as well as all the Directors General and heads of Agencies and Parastatals under the FCT Administration and Federal Ministry of Environment.

    Bello said that Abuja must be clean since it is a major gateway into the country, adding that the clean-up exercise is also a re-orientation effort in line with the Change Agenda of the Federal Government.

    The Minister decried that community efforts in ensuring a clean environment has almost disappeared in our society as most people now look up to government to clean their environment for them; thereby neglecting the household and communal efforts in cleanliness which has often led to the spread of such diseases as Lassa fever.

    Malam Bello called on residents of the Federal Capital Territory to imbibe the Change Agenda of the Federal Government.

    •A filth-laden gutter
    •A filth-laden gutter

    He said, “We must change our attitude as parents and as wards. We must tell ourselves the truth that our environment is very dirty and that the responsibility of ensuring a clean and healthy environment lies on us. It must start from our households, our communities and our towns and cities. A clean environment is our collective responsibility for a healthy living”.

    He added, “I, therefore, enjoin all of us to work hard in re-introducing community efforts in environmental sanitation through grassroots mobilization and also fashion out new ways of changing our attitude and the psyche of our younger ones in order to ensure a sustainable clean and healthy environment”.

    The Minister emphasized that the community-based approach to environmental sanitation will lead to a more realistic and sustainable effort in maintaining the environment.

    Malam Bello also called on the Area Councils’ chairmen and traditional rulers to organise their communities to tackle refuse littering the FCT, by ensuring a clean and healthy environment.

    The Minister of Environment, Hajiya Amina Mohammed expressed happiness over the collaboration of the FCTA with the Federal Ministry of Environment on “Environmental Sanitation”, to ensure the provision of clean environment for healthy living in the Territory, and assured of her strong commitment to make the collaboration sustainable.

    The Minister stressed that an environment of filth and dirt constitutes public health hazards to the people and therefore called for concerted efforts to rid our habitats of dirt.

    She remarked that sanitation is vital for human health; noting that healthy people are more productive at the work place. She insisted that healthy communities offer a more lucrative market for goods and services.

    “We must tell ourselves the truth that our environment is very dirty and that the responsibility of ensuring a clean and healthy environment lies on us. It must start from our households, our communities and our towns and citiesThe Minister explained that the exercise is a wake-up call and an opportunity for people in Kuje and FCT in general to reflect on our general attitude to personal hygiene in our neighborhood, communities and public places, as well as work towards ensuring improved hygienic and healthy environment.

    Hajiya Mohammed used the occasion to call for proper disposal of human excreta (faeces and urine); sound domestic personal and food hygiene practices; clean premises – proper solid waste (rubbish/garbage management); safe collection and storage of water for domestic use; as well as control of pest and vectors (flies, mosquitoes, cockroaches and rodents that spread diseases).

    She said that the negative effects of poor sanitation and indiscriminate waste disposal include the recent flooding that destroyed houses; farmlands during the raining season.

    The Ministers, traditional rulers and other guests at the occasion later moved to the Kuje Market for sanitation campaign to make the market men and women key into the laudable programme.

    The FCT Administration has already put in place mechanism to reward the cleanest Area Council in the Federal Capital Territory with a befitting prize.

    The Minister emphasized that his Administration has considered the policy of reward and punishment as it concerns environmental sanitation to encourage the residents proactively clean their immediate environment.

    Malam Bello revealed that the chairman of the cleanest Area Council at the end of the year would not only be recognized but would enjoy certain privileges even at the national level by representing the territory.

    The Minister reiterated that the issues of improved personal hygiene and removal of environmental nuisances in the Area Councils and Satellite Towns in the Federal Capital Territory, is on the front burner of the current FCT Administration.

     

  • Battle on tariff hike not over, says Falana

    Battle on tariff hike not over, says Falana

    Human Rights lawyer Femi Falana has warned electricity distribution companies to expect more opposition from rights groups, if they implement a new tariff approved by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).

    Falana spoke at the 2016 National Conference Meeting of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) in Lagos on Saturday, with the theme: ‘Challenges of Protecting the Human Rights of Nigerians.”

    Other speakers at the event included CDHR President Malachy Ugwumadu, widow of the late rights activist Dr. Beko Ransome-Kuti, Bose, and wife of CDHR founder, the late Alao Aka-Bashorun, Kudirat.

    Falana said: “Last week, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) went to the streets to send a note of warning that there is no way you can justify increase in tariff by 45 per cent; the battle is not over yet.”

    “The NLC president informed me that what happened during the week was just a warning and until the government reverses that decision to increase tariff, in the midst of darkness, the struggle will continue.”

    Earlier, CDHR President Malachy Ugwumadu said the organisation would aid the government’s anti-corruption fight by publishing a document detailing the history, extent and perpetrators of corruption.

    Ugwumadu said: “We intend to capture the looting activities in the country, liaise with law enforcement agencies and document names of those alleged to have milked us dry.

    “The purpose for this is to ascertain the actual amount, track the much to be recovered and quantify in developmental terms, what they would have translated to.”

    The conference also marked the 10th Beko memorial as well as that of Aka-Bashorun.

    Mrs. Ransome-Kuti said her late husband’s life was full of purpose and protection of people’s rights.

    She urged Nigerians to back President Muhammadu Buhari’s efforts to sanitise the country.

    “We now have a President that represents integrity, transparency and due process,” she said.

  • Inside battle of the Ubas

    Inside battle of the Ubas

    As the Uba brothers, Andy and Chris, renew their political rivalry over Anambra South Senatorial seat, Associate Editor, Sam Egburonu, digs into the root causes of the siblings’ political battles and reports

    There was confusion in Uga, a relatively influential community in Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State on Saturday, March 28 through Sunday, March 29, 2015. That Saturday, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared one of the sons of the community, Dr Andy Uba, the winner of the Anambra South Senatorial Re-run Election.

    His major opponent at the polls was former Chief Executive Officer of Nigeria Communication Commission (NCC), Engr. Ernest Ndukwe, of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), who hails from Oraifite in Ekwusigo Local Government Area. So, a casual observer to the intricate politics of Anambra State politics would have expected a spontaneous overflow of joy across the length and breadth of Uga, Uba’s home community.

    But that was far from the reality. For even within the Uba family itself, there was clear cut division. While some rejoiced wildly, popping champagne, others swore at the top of their voices to stop Andy at all cost and to make good their threat, they openly declared their support for Ndukwe.

    This conflicting mood both within the community and in Uba’s home in particular aptly captures the paradox of the long drawn battle of the Ubas. It is a political rivalry that now involves three politically powerful brothers from the same parents: Senator Andy Uba, a former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s Senior Special Assistant on Special Duties and Domestic Affairs, his younger brother, Chief Chris Uba, who has remained a controversial political godfather in Anambra State politics since 2002 and their eldest brother, Senator Ugochukwu Uba, a physician who served Anambra South Senatorial District at the Legislative Red Chamber between 2003- 2007.

    Recent reports not only identified Senator Ugochukwu Uba and Chris Uba as some of the major supporters of Ndukwe’s efforts to dethrone their brother, Senator Andy Uba, but also singled out Chris as the major financier of the moves.

    The Uba family

    From 1999 when Nigeria returned to civil democracy, the Uba family, which was little known, suddenly emerged not only an important family in the political theatre but perhaps one of the most powerful in the South-East zone. It is on record that within a space of 15 years, from 2000, the family has produced one governor, though short-lived and two senators, even as the youngest of the three brothers, Chris, is angling to emerge the third senator from the same family.

    The political strength of the family first became public knowledge when it was credited with being among the ‘godfathers’ that installed Senator Chris Ngige as a former governor along with all the state and federal lawmakers in the state.

    Acknowledging that feat, Chris was quoted as saying then, “God merely used me to touch some lives, and mind you, it is not just the governor and his deputy. There are also three senators, 10 members of the House of Representatives and 30 members of the House of Assembly of the state. I sponsored them. I put them there though only 29 House of Assembly members eventually made it… This is the first time in the history of Anambra State that one single individual would be putting every public officer in the state in power.”

    The roots

    What is it that separated the Uba family members so much that even elders of the community and their close uncles have found it difficult to resolve? That has remained the major question on the lips of most observers even as the exit of former Governor Peter Obi from Awka Government House and the recent pronouncement of the courts on the National Assembly Elections seem to have combined to revive the political battle of the Ubas?

    The Nation investigation during the week shows that all may have been well amongst the brothers until late 2007, when a seed of discord, arising from sharing of political offices, was allegedly planted in their midst. By then, Andy, who was governor of Anambra State, had just been sacked by the courts.

    A source close to the family, who pleaded not to be named at this time, explained that it all started when they, as a family, reached an agreement over who, between Andy and Chris, would be supported to vie for two strategic positions: the governor of Anambra State and the Senator, representing Anambra South Senatorial District. According to the source, the bone of contention had been the Anambra South Senatorial seat. The source alleged that “nobody in the family worked against Andy Uba’s ambition of emerging the governor. The brothers, especially Chris, labored hard to ensure the success of the plan. This is because before Andy lost his governorship seat and declared interest to occupy the senatorial seat, the family had agreed that Chris would be generally supported to occupy the seat since Andy had held office in Abuja and was supported by all to emerge the governor. But when he suddenly lost the governorship seat, he went against the agreement to grab the seat. Since then, peace had eluded this family,” the source lamented.

    According to the source, “we (family members) have tried to manage the situation since then and so as we prepared for the 2015 general elections, we persuaded Andy to vacate the senate seat for his younger brother, Chris. We are all worried over the current developments because Andy had agreed to this agreement, especially because part of it was that he, Andy, will give the governorship contest another trial.

    “Is that fare on the young man? Don’t forget that Chris is the godfather of Anambra PDP. He is the one that practically installed his eldest brother, Senator Ugochukwu Uba, as Senator for Anambra South between 2003 and 2007. He later made his brother, Andy, governor of the state in 2007 until he was removed by the court. Then he allowed Andy to go to the senate.

    “As you already know, after losing out at the recent Anambra governorship primaries, Andy again insisted he would go for the senate. This is the genesis of the revival of the political disagreement. This also explains why even the eldest brother, Ugochukwu, who hardly takes sides, is not amused by the attitude,” the source said.

    Another stakeholder, an elderly man from Uga, who trades in Onitsha, also said identifying who said what and who is blaming who will not help the already divided family or the community in anywhere. He however said it is not fair to blame Andy for what has happened. “No one can deny the fact that Andy has the requisite experience, exposure and connection to offer us effective representation. It is unfortunate that the Uba brothers from my community are fighting over this same office but we must not lose sight of the fact that the Uba family, and the people of Uga community are not the only qualified or rich people in Anambra State or Anambra South Senatorial District. Wisdom demands that we sit down together as a family and settle our differences instead of carrying on as if we are the only people that matter,” he cautioned rather angrily.

    As Nigerians watch the intriguing developments in Anambra State National Assembly Election re-runs, observers wonder when the three Uba brothers will resolve the matter between them in order to move the state PDP forward for as Dr. Eunice Ekechi told The Nation on Thursday, “the division in Uba family is a concrete symbol of the larger picture in Anambra State PDP. The two are intricately linked. So, if we solve the Uba family’s problem the larger Anambra PDP would be easier to resolve.”

    If Ekechi is right, then the question will be who will resolve the Uba riddle and save Anambra PDP?

  • ‘Supremacy battle’ over Ibadan chiefs

    ‘Supremacy battle’ over Ibadan chiefs

    The face-off between Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi and Olubadan of Ibadan Oba Samuel Odulana Odugade 1 over the promotion of nine high chiefs caused a stir before it was resolved by the ancient town’s elders.  BISI OLADELE writes on the debacle which many observers described as unexpected.

    The Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Samuel Odulana Odugade 1, will go down in history as a monarch whose tenure witnessed open confrontation with two sitting governors. First was in July, 2010 when the traditional ruler snubbed Alao-Akala, who was on a private visit to his Monatan, Ibadan Palace. Second was alleged promotion of nine high chiefs without approval of Governor Abiola Ajimobi on January 1, this year.

    Akala had gone to the palace on a private visit while returning from a routine weekend stay in Ogbomoso, his birth place, on Sunday, July 7, 2010.

    But the monarch refused to receive the governor as he claimed that Akala did not book an appointment for that visit.

    The governor, who was accompanied on the visit by one of his top aides, was said to have left in anger after waiting for about 45 minutes in the palace.

    This time, the traditional ruler is in the “fight” to uphold the promotion of nine high chiefs who were elevated on January 1, this year.

    While the Oyo State Government insisted that the promotion and installation were in defiance to its earlier order to subject the chiefs to security and medical examinations as required by the Chieftaincy Laws of the state, the monarch insisted that he did not receive the letter conveying the order. Besides, he said promotion of chiefs does not require approval of the governor.

    But the government handed down a 24-hour ultimatum on Monday,  January 4 to the Olubadan to reverse the promotion or face sanctions. The development took the state by the storm, raising many questions.

    Conversely, some also wondered why the Olubadan-In-Council ignored an order for the chiefs to observe the law in the promotion of the chiefs.

     

    What the law says

     Part 2, Sections 6, 7, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20 and 21 of the Chieftaincy Law, CAP  28, Laws of Oyo State,  2000 specify the procedure for appointing chiefs.

    According to the law, the council (now Olubadan-In-Council) is empowered to notify the local government (Ibadan South East in this case) in writing on the vacancies that existed by reason of the deaths of chiefs  Sulaiman Omiyale, the Balogun of Ibadan and Omowale Kuye, the Otun Olubadan, in November last year.

    According to the law, the council is to seek the approval of the governor for the appointment of those to replace them and others to move up the chieftaincy ladder.

    In the current debacle, the process was followed. But the governor wrote back, ordering the nine chiefs to obtain security and health clearance to ascertain their fitness for the new and higher titles in line with Section 14 (2) of the Law.

     

    Crux of the matter

     The Law states: “No person shall be qualified to be a candidate for a recognised chieftaincy who: (a) suffers from serious physical infirmity; or (b) has, under any law in force in Nigeria, been found or declared to be a lunatic or adjudged to be of unsound mind; or (c) has, in any part of the Commonwealth: (1) been sentenced to death or imprisonment for a term exceeding two years; or (ii) been convicted of an offence involving dishonesty and sentenced to imprisonment therefore, and has not been granted a free pardon.”

    The security and health clearance requested was expected to serve the purpose of establishing that the chiefs were suitably qualified for the promotion as required by law.

    While health clearance would ensure that they are mentally okay, the security clearance was to confirm that they have not been convicted or sentenced for a period longer than two years anywhere in the Commonwealth.

    Section 19 of the Law also states: “As soon as practicable after the declaration of an appointment, the Secretary of the competent council shall inform the Governor thereof, if the consent of any person is required to the appointment, whether that consent has been granted or withheld.”

    Section 20 (1) states: “Subject to the provisions of this section, the Governor may approve or set aside an appointment of a recognised chief. (2). The Governor shall not approve or set aside an appointment within the period of 21 days after notification in accordance with Section 19, and during that period: (a) an unsuccessful candidate; or (b) a ruling house in respect of the chieftaincy which alleges that the proper order of rotation has not been observed, may make representations to the governor in the manner prescribed that the appointment be set aside.

    The sections as well as Section 21 also stipulate the steps to be followed in approving or setting aside an appointment.

    Section 20 (3) states: “In determining whether to approve or set aside an appointment under this section, the Governor may have regard to:

    (a) whether the provisions of section 15 or section 16 have been complied with;

    (b) whether any candidate was qualified or disqualified in accordance with the provisions of section 14;

    (c) whether the customary law relating to the appointment has been complied with;

    (d) whether the kingmakers, in the case of a ruling house chieftaincy, had due regard to the ability, character or popular support of any candidate or (e) whether the appointment was obtained corruptly or by the undue influence of any person.”

     

    Political interpretation

    Observers within and outside the state largely believe that the issue was more political than traditional or procedural.

    Analysts also pointed out that Governor Ajimobi was allegedly behind the move to enforce scrutiny because of inclusion of some members of the opposition in the group of nine chiefs. They are chiefs Rashidi Ladoja of Accord Party, who has contested against Ajimobi twice and was defeated, and Chief Lekan Balogun, who is a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Ladoja is currently at the Supreme Court challenging Ajimobi’s victory in the April 11, 2015 governorship election.

    Again, some observers wonder what damage Ladoja’s and Balogun’s promotion could do to Ajimobi after winning election twice.

    But a source close to Ajimobi brushed aside the idea. The source insisted that the governor was only bringing orderliness to the system. “He only wanted due process to be followed,” the source said.

    According to the source, the recent issue assumed political dimension only because of the politician involved.

    According to him, when Ladoja was elevated along with others on August 23, 2013, Ajimobi did not raise any highbrow. He gladly approved it because there was no reason to fault the process. “So, that is to show you that the recent action of the governor was not in any way political,” the source said.

    While addressing the state civil servants during the inter-faith thanksgiving service on Monday January 11, Ajimobi lampooned those accusing him of trying to stop Ladoja from moving up the ladder. He said having prevented him from becoming governor twice by defeating him at the polls, what on earth would make him deny Ladoja his rights to move closer to becoming Olubadan. After all, he stressed, he was not interested in becoming the Olubadan. He insisted that his administration had to take the step to inject sanity into the system.

    The governor emphasised that the issue was purely procedural. He also expressed gratitude to Ibadan elders who waded into the crisis and resolved it amicably.

     

    Intervention of Ibadan elders

    Ibadan elders, under the auspices of the Ibadan Elders’ Council (IEC) waded into the debacle 24 hours after the governor’s ultimatum to save the situation. It called a meeting between the two parties at the home of Ambassador Lou Saanu.

    After two rounds of meetings, the crisis was amicably resolved with Ajimobi granting provisional approval to the promotion pending the time the chiefs submit their security and health clearance.

    A source close to the meeting confided in Southwest Report that it was tough for the elders to broker peace as Ajimobi insisted on not shifting grounds on the strength that the palace willfully ignored his office in the promotion exercise by going against his order for the chiefs to comply with the law.

    Conversely, the chiefs were said to have argued that the law did not clearly stipulate that the monarch cannot promote after 21 days of writing to inform the governor on intention to promote.

    But after much persuasion, it was learnt that the palace did not do it to spite him but that the two parties interpreted the law differently.

    In the end, there was a mutual agreement to satisfy both parties with the provisional approval and the chiefs complying with the law.

  • Policeman, robber killed in Bayelsa gun battle

    An unidentified policeman attached to the Department of Operations of the Bayelsa State Police Command has been shot dead by suspected robbers at Agudama, Yenagoa Local Government Area.

    Also, a member of the gang and a resident of Agudama, Victor Abule, died in the robbery.

    It was learnt that the incident happened at 11 pm on Saturday when a five-man robbery gang stormed the home of Evelyn Patrick at Agudama.

    The bandits were said to have shot dead Abule, who was Patrick’s neighbour, for allegedly spying on them.

    The deceased police officer was said to have confronted the robbers when they were escaping with their loot.

    This reportedly led to an exchange of gunfire between the hoodlums and the policeman.

    While the policeman shot dead one of the suspected robbers, he had a bullet wound that later caused his death at an undisclosed hospital.

    It was gathered that the bodies of the victims had been deposited at the morgue of the Federal Medical Centre in Yenagoa, the state capital.

    Police spokesman Asinim Butswat, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), confirmed the robbery incident and the three casualties.

    Butswat said: “On January 1, at 2200 hour (10 pm), a five-man robbery gang, robbed Evelyn Patrick at Agudama in Yenagoa and shot dead Victor Abule, 23.

    “Consequently, as they were escaping, a police officer confronted the armed men and shot dead one of them. The officer sustained gunshots injuries. He was rushed to the hospital where he eventually died.”

    The spokesman said the command had begun a manhunt for the fleeing suspects while investigation had begun into the incident.

    Also, a 27-year-old man in Yenagoa, Nwani Nnamdi, has died in a boat mishap.

    Nnamdi reportedly died after the canoe conveying him and another person capsized at the Down Yenagoa Creek.

    The passenger died before he could get help.

    The condition of another passenger travelling alongside Nnmadi could not be verified last night.

    The canoe was said to have sunk after it was hit by the waves from a passenger speedboat which drove past as it was crossing to another side of the creek.

    Butswat, who confirmed the incident, said the deceased, whose body had been deposited at the morgue of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Yenagoa, hailed from Ebonyi State and was 27.

  • Battle shifts to court as Bello is declared governor-elect

    Battle shifts to court as Bello is declared governor-elect

    CONTROVERSY yesterday trailed the declaration of All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate Alhaji Yahaya Bello as winner of Saturday’s governorship election in Kogi State by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    With the declaration, all is now set for the continuation of a legal tussle to determine the state’s next governor.

    The Audu/Faleke Campaign Organisation, in a statement yesterday by its Director of Media, Duro Meseko in Lokoja, said the final results as declared by INEC vindicated its claims that the November 21 had already been won and should have been declared as such.

    INEC declared the election inconclusive on November 22 to pave the way for a supplementary poll which held in 91 voting centres across 18 council areas on Saturday.

    The  Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) rejected the result and declared its candidate, Governor Idris Wada, the winner.

    It described the supplementary election as a “complete waste of tax payers’ money”.

    According to the Faleke/ Audu campaign statement, in the supplementary election’s final results declared by INEC, the APC polled 6,885 votes while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) scored 5,363, making a total of 12, 248 votes, a far-cry from the 49,353 registered voters which the INEC inform the declaration of the initial poll inconclusive.

    It reads: “It is now crystal clear to everybody that the Kogi governorship election of November 21 was already won and lost before the strange supplementary election was introduced. We therefore urge our supporters to remain calm and steadfast while the law takes its rightful course.”

    On its part, the PDP rejected the supplementary election and its results, vowing to challenge the outcome at the governorship election petition tribunal.

    The party’s local Publicity Secretary, Mr. Yomi Ogunmola, said the APC candidate was declared winner of the election by the Returning Officer despite not scoring the highest number of votes.

    His words: “The position of the party is that the election result is not acceptable and we will be approaching the tribunal for justice.”

    According to Ogunmola, the PDP has a lot of grounds to challenge the outcome of the entire result.

    He said: “There are lots of grounds but I can only tell you one. You heard when the returning officer said Yahaya Bello is the candidate with the majority of votes cast, but he is not. The majority of the votes cast belong to someone else.”

    Asked who the person is, Ogunmola said: “Why not wait till we get to the bridge before crossing it.”

    The governor-elect(Bello) called for calm, describing the APC as one big family and that there was bound to be misunderstanding among members of a family.

    He promised to bring all those that are aggrieved together on assumption of office.

    His words: “In a family, there is bound to one misunderstanding or the other but if I assume the responsibility as governor of the state, I will ensure that all the aggrieved parties are brought together.

    “Everybody would air their own grievances but we will make sure that everybody is carried along. To my brothers in other political parties, after politics, we have to settle for the business of governance because in our state, so much needed to be done. We would all sit at a roundtable and do the needful.”