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  • Why Buhari should be APC candidate, by Shagaya

    Why Buhari should be APC candidate, by Shagaya

    Former Minister of Internal Affair General John Shagaya has said in Abuja that the time has come for Nigerians  to elect a leader, who is capable of bringing back the nation’s lost glory.

    Speaking at a news conference organised by the Buhari Friends Organisation,  Shagaya said that Nigeria is lagging behind its counterparts because of corruption and insecurity in the land.

    He said it is unfortunate that Nigeria, which was a recognised as a continental power a few years ago because of her exploit in peace keeping in other African countries is not able to deal with pocket of insurgents who are occupying cities  with impunity.

    He said: “Nigeria was two years ago recognised as a continental power and a great contributor to world peace, hence, we were elected a non- voting member of the security council. I said in the last two years because the world has began to frown against some of the happenings in this country. There is a high level of insecurity and corruption.

    “The western world is saying this is the Nigeria that saved Tangayyika, now Tanzania. We were in Rwanda and Angola and other parts of Agrica. How come that we cannot cure ourselves of minor misdemeanor? The solution can be found in the statement of the America Secretary of State in Europe  that we have corrupt and porous leadership. These two factors have contributed to insecurity”.

    Speaking on why Buhari should be given the mandate to lead the country, he said: “This man we are hoping that Nigerians will give the opportunity to rule is incorruptible and fearless.

    “He is one man who in 1984, when the World Bank decided that we must swallow line, hook and sinker heavy conditionalities in Nigeriia, he stood up and said, I must consult my country because Nigeria must not be judged on western values because we are a developing nation. You know what happened when we began to bite the conditionalities of the World Bank. When he made this speech in 1984, the naira was equivalent to 2.2 dollars.

    “Today, you need a basket of naira to buy one dollar. Those are the qualities he has. He is a man that most Nigerians who are not hungry would want to rule this country. Of course, democracy is a game of numbers and I know that all of us from different background who love this country will say that we have someone we respect and will be respected by the continental bodies. Since Nigeria cannot operate in a vacuum, we need someone that the world can accept for us to develop and progress together.

    “There is, no doubt, that our leaders have done the best from the beginning in 1960 and even the struggle for, independence through the civil war until the last few years. All I believe that the Friends of Buhari are saying today is that we are declining, instead of climbing to the top of the ladder. This is were the entire world did not expect us to be.

    “Whether as Christians or Muslims or non-believers, we must realise that we must govern this country with a high sense of responsibility through incorruptible citizens as well as men and women that the world and our various communities will respect.

    “I want to say that, if other Nigerians listen to you, they should vote one man, General Muhammadu Buhari, and by so doing, we will be back to the great nation that we were a few years back and we will not be losing 16 local governments to Boko Haram. In some states like mine, we have 17 local governments and, if they occupy 16 local governments, it means that an entire state has been lost”.

    The National Coordinator of Buhari Friends Organisation, Saint Athanasius Okon, appealled to the leadership of the APC to look inward and give the party’s presidential ticket to the former  leader.

    He also appeal to other aspirants on the platform of the party to reconsider their position and adopt the retired  General. He added. “They should do justice to the man who has been fighting for us so that we should have a better society. They should give him a consensus ticket.

    “Other aspirants should give the ticket to the man they were using to consult. Let him carry the flag so that it will be easy for the younger ones to follow. He stands for equity. Allow merit to thrive over mediocrity. Plead, that we do more work by going to mobilise potential delegates.”

  • Substitution of candidate complete if within stipulated time

    This is an appeal against the judgment  of the Court of Appeal, Benin Division delivered on the 22nd day of May, 2013, in which the Court set aside the decision of the trial Federal High Court that it lacked jurisdiction to hear and determine the matter instituted after the conduct of the main election as well as the finding of that Court that Edoja Rufus Akpodiete (2nd Respondent) did not withdraw his candidature from the election conducted by INEC (1st Respondent) for Ughelli North Constituency II on 26/4/2011. Accordingly the 2nd Respondent was returned the winner of the election and was issued with a certificate of return.

    Edoja Rufus Akpodiete (2nd Respondent) together with Jenkins Giane Duvie Gwede (Appellant) who was the Plaintiff at the trial Court are members of the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) (4th Respondent), a registered political party. The 2nd Respondent contested and won the primary election of the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) for the election into Ugelli North Constituency II for the Delta State House of Assembly. Later on, the 2nd Respondent, by notice in writing to the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) withdrew from contesting the said election, collected his deposit of N2 million paid to the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) for the purpose of contesting the election as a result of which the Appellant was used by the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) to substitute the 2nd Respondent. After the substitution, the 1st Respondent, INEC published a list of candidates for the said election which list included the name of the Appellant as the candidate of the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP). However, without any further instruction or input from the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP), INEC released another list in which the name of 2nd Respondent was put instead of that of the Appellant, as the candidate of the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP).

    On his part, the 2nd Respondent denied that he withdrew from the election and also contended that the trial Court had no jurisdiction to entertain the action, an election haven taken place as the matter is a pre-election matter. The election in issue was conducted on the 26th day of April, 2011 while the action was instituted on the 29th day of April, 2011. The Appellant herein along with the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) jointly commenced a suit at the Federal High Count sitting at Asaba. At the conclusion of hearing, the trial Court not only concluded that it had no jurisdiction to hear and determine the matter but dismissed same. Aggrieved by the judgment of the Court, the Appellant appealed to the Court of Appeal, Benin Division on seven grounds of appeal and on the 22/5/2013 the Court of Appeal delivered judgment allowing the appeal in part. The Court of Appeal found as a fact that the 2nd Respondent withdrew from contesting the election and that the Appellant was used to substitute him but after agreeing that the trial Court erred, the Court of Appeal refused to grant the reliefs claimed from the trial Court and also refused to grant the consequential orders. Not satisfied with the final conclusion of the Court of Appeal, the Appellant appealed to the Supreme Court on four grounds complaining against that part of the judgment of the Court of Appeal they had reservations about. All the Respondents save the 3rd respondent, Julius Oghenevwegba Bobi Cross-Appealed.

    The Appellant in the main appeal generated four issues for the determination of the appeal.

    Having regards to the facts of this case as found by the Court of Appeal and the applicable law on the issue of nomination and/or substitution of a candidate by a political party, the Supreme Court held the view that the Court of Appeal was in error in dismissing the suit of the Appellant at the trial Court, there being no claim before the Court challenging the validity of the nomination by substitution of the Appellant for the 2nd Respondent. The Court held that the Court of Appeal was therefore in error in regarding the substitution of the Appellant as defective or irregular. The Court stated the decision of the Supreme Court that publication of the list of candidates to contest an election by INEC is an administrative act which does not confer or take away validity from a duly nominated or substituted candidate. Nomination or substitution of a candidate is complete the moment INEC receives the necessary documents effecting same from the political party within the stipulated time. See KUBOR VS DICKSON (2013) ALL FWLR (PT 676) 392 AT 426–427; (2012) LPELR-9817(SC). Issues 1 and 2 were resolved in favour of the Appellant.

    On the 3rd and 4th issues which learned counsel for the Appellant also argued together, the pith and substance of his submission is that the basis for substitution of a candidate at an election is as provided in Sections 33 and 35 of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended). That once there is evidence of withdrawal of a candidate and this followed by the act of forwarding same to INEC by the Political Party concerned the substitution is completed and effective. It was the further submission of counsel that once a candidate has withdrawn his candidature, the person who nominated him and their nomination cannot be reckoned with any more, relying on Section 32(4) of the Electoral Act, 2010, that the issue of irregularity of the nomination of the Appellant was raised suo motu by the Court of Appeal as it never arose from the decision of the trial court nor on appeal or cross appeal before the Court; that the Court of Appeal was therefore in error in using the issue so raised suo motu in deciding the matter.

    Deciding issues 3 and 4, the Court agreed with the submission of counsel for the Appellant that the issue of irregularity of the nomination of the Appellant was raised suo motu by the Court of Appeal and without opportunity for the parties, particularly the Appellant to address the Court on it. The Court stated that it is settled law that a Court may raise an issue suo motu but where it decides to base its decision on the matter on the issue so raised, the Court is duty bound to invite counsel for the parties to address on it, particularly the party who would be adversely affected by the result of the exercise. The Court held that the Court of Appeal was clearly in error. These issues were resolved in favour of the Appellant.

    In the final analysis, the Court held the main appeal by the Appellant as well as the cross-appeal by the 4th Respondent succeeds and they were allowed while the cross-appeals of the 1st and 2nd Respondents failed and were accordingly dismissed.

     

    • Edited by LawPavilion

    LawPavilion Citation: (2014) LPELR-23763(SC)

     

  • I’m for consensus candidate, says Saraki

    I’m for consensus candidate, says Saraki

    Former Kwara State Governor Bukola Saraki said yesterday that he suspended his bid for president in the overall interest of a better country and the success of the All Progressives Congress(APC).

    Saraki, in a statement in Abuja, said “we need to change the way the country is run”.

    Although he did not endorse any of the major aspirants that had indicated interest in the APC presidential ticket, there were indications that the suspension might be part of the moves to build a consensus on a candidate in the party.

    Dr. Saraki said: “I am stepping down my ambition because Nigeria’s political outlook for 2015 is very complicated and this is the time for every patriotic politician to situate his personal ambition in the context of the country’s overall interest.

    “I don’t think our party can afford too much internal rancour going into next year’s election. I therefore think some of us need to make the sacrifice and be part of the solution rather than part of the problem of the party.”

    He added: “I have always maintained that I did not leave the ruling party to join the opposition because of any personal interest. Anyone who understands Nigeria’s politics would know that it takes courage and self-sacrifice to do that.

    “ Therefore, whether it is on the issue of the party or all other issues that I have been pushing in my position as a Senator of the Federal Republic, I have been driven primarily by my desire to see a better and more purposely governed country.

    “Party primaries in any healthy democracy would always leave several contenders disappointed and, sometimes bitter, as there would be only one winner. The party would then invest so much energy and time afterwards managing and reconciling various interests.

    “APC can only live up to the aspirations of Nigerians for change if it is not derailed by too much acrimony from its primaries which is coming so close to the general elections.”

    “We need to change the way the country is run, we need change in our security and the values we place on human life, we need to change the current disgraceful situation in security and corruption.

    “ And I believe only the APC can bring about this change and give our country the leadership it deserves.

    ”This is why some of us felt that we must make the necessary sacrifice and contribute to building a strong and united party that provides the only real alternative to the floundering government that has become so constipated on power and lost touch with the realities that ordinary Nigerians grapple with everyday.”

    Senator Saraki recalled how he, along with other progressives in the PDP decided to “leave the party to join the APC when it was clear that PDP, especially at the national level, had become too invested in the personal ambition of one man at the overall detriment of the country and its democracy”.

    A source close to the former governor said: “Senator Saraki has had the opportunity to discuss and exchange thoughts with other Presidential aspirants, namely, General Buhari, Alhaji Atiku and Governor Kwankwaso.

    “Senator Saraki stated he is convinced that they are committed to see that APC will be able to come up with a credible and acceptable candidate that will take our dear country on a different path.

    “ Senator Saraki said even though his endorsement was being courted by the other aspirants, in the spirit of playing a role to being part of the solution to ensuring a rancor, bitter free presidential primaries, he will not officially endorse any of the candidates immediately, but will work tirelessly to see that whoever emerges is acceptable by all”.

  • Enugu PDP caucus in disarray over consensus candidate

    Enugu PDP caucus in disarray over consensus candidate

    •Chime: I didn’t anoint Ugwuanyi  

    •Enugu PDP ratifies consensus candidate

    The caucus of the Enugu State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been divided over its consensus candidate.

    But Governor Sullivan Chime, who has been accused of masterminding the process that led to the emergence of House of Representatives member Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi as the party’s consensus candidate, has denied any wrongdoing.

    Many prominent members of the party boycotted last Saturday’s caucus meeting to show their disapproval of what they called a brazen attempt by one man and a few people around him to impose an unpopular candidate on the party.

    Among the party’s stalwarts who stayed away from the meeting are: Senate Deputy President Ike Ekweremadu, former governor of old Anambra State Senator Jim Nwobodo, Senator Fidelis Okoro, Rear Admiral Allison Madueke, Chief Anayo Onwuegbu, former Information Minister Frank Nweke Jnr, former Power Minister Prof. Barth Nnaji, former Foreign Affairs Minister Dubem Onyia and Senator Ayogu Eze, who has been insisting that the party should hold a primary instead of ratifying a consensus candidate.

    Others include former Senate President Ken Nnamani, who was said to be away in the United States, and several prominent members of the caucus.

    It was learnt that Chime tried to convince opponents of consensus to attend the meeting, calling them severally on his phone.

    Some of the leaders reportedly said they would not allow the governor to use them as the rubberstamp to his “handpicked candidate”.

    They wondered why the governor suddenly began to show them affection, after allegedly alienating them for about eight years.

    “The governor never took the call of any leader of Enugu State for nearly eight years. I will be a fool to fall for this emergency love. It’s a Greek gift,” one of the party’s chieftains, who spoke in confidence, told our reporter.

    It was also learnt that the governor changed his “usual” authoritative voice for a conciliatory tone to persuade the members to toe his line.

    Some of those at the meeting said they were surprised by the haste with which it was conducted.

    They also alleged that nobody was allowed to comment or move the motion on the consensus controversy.

    Some of the party’s stalwarts said they would not attend the meeting because the consensus candidacy violated the party’s constitution.

    “There is no way I would have joined them to flout the instruction and guidelines of the party. No way! The PDP constitution is superior to any individual in the party, no matter how highly placed,” another party chieftain said.

    But Chime denied the allegation that he masterminded Ugwuanyi’s emergence as the consensus candidate.

    The governor addressed reporters at the weekend after the caucus meeting of the PDP, saying members of the party chose the lawmaker.

    Chime, who gave a rundown of how Ugwuanyi was endorsed by the people of Enugu North Senatorial District, where the governorship is zoned to, dismissed insinuations that he imposed him on the party.

    The governor said party members from the three senatorial zones chose Ugwuanyi.

    He said: “I was there as the umpire; I didn’t participate in the deliberations. Mine was to guide them, to coordinate what was happening. So, everybody who wanted to speak was given the chance to speak.

    “All those who indicated interest one way or the other were there. All elected officials – government, public officers, state and national – were there. Past and present leaders were there. So, we met and, unanimously at the end of deliberations, it was put to a formal motion. Many of the aspirants stepped down for Ugwuanyi.

    “Those who had expressed concerns earlier, thinking that they were called to just endorse a particular candidate, after hearing from their kinsmen, changed their views and withdrew from the race. “Interestingly, at the end of the day, the two persons who moved and supported the motion were actually contestants who stepped down. Fidel Ayogu moved the motion and it was seconded by former Deputy Governor Okey Itanyi. The motion was unanimously endorsed; everybody supported it.

    “When I asked if anybody was against the motion, not a single person raised his hand. So, they all endorsed it.”

    Chime explained that marketing his preferred candidate would not be difficult because of what he called his wide acceptability.

    The governor said his hope and prayers were to make history as the first governor whose successor emerged through a consensus.

    He stressed that it would be fool-hardy for anybody to challenge the lawmaker, either at the PDP primary election or at the general election next February.

    On the statement by the party’s national leadership, warning state chapters against endorsing candidates, Chime noted that instead of the warning, the party should pat states on the back for having consensus candidates through dialogue.

    He said: “The party cannot and will never be against the party coming together to agree on a candidate. What should be their problem, if any, is if any level of the party stops other people from buying forms. Here, people are free to buy forms. We endorsed the President as a consensus candidate. It won’t stop him from going for the primaries.

    “But it will be a mere formality. Any other person coming out will be coming there to ridicule himself because the party has spoken. But it can’t stop anybody from buying form constitutionally.

    “That we have endorsed him (Ugwuanyi) is a statement to whoever that is coming that the party has spoken. But if you like, the party wants to make some money. If you like, you can pick your form. Nobody will stop anybody from buying forms. Buy your form and go for the primaries. What you find, you will take. Nobody is going against the party directives.

    “I’m not sure what they said affects us. As far as Enugu is concerned, we are not stopping anybody from contesting.

    “Thank God, under the present dispensation, all forms are bought in Abuja. Nobody has the powers to stop you from buying forms. If anything, the party should encourage it. They should congratulate us for this feat, for coming together to say this is our choice.”

    According to him, almost all the aspirants, who initially indicated interest to run for the governorship seat, have backed Ugwuanyi, who represents Udenu/Igboeze North in the National Assembly.

    Chime described the development as a major feat and an example for other states to learn from.

    “All of them (aspirants) have queued behind him, as far as I know. If it had not been by a consensus, all of those persons would have been saying things in the papers. They would have been telling you different things. As at today, it is only Senator Ayogu Eze who is opposing the arrangement, for reasons best known to him,” he said.

    Also, the Enugu State caucus of the PDP has approved Ugwuanyi as its consensus candidate.

    Rising from a special meeting yesterday at the Government House in Enugu, the caucus reviewed the series of endorsements for Ugwuanyi by the three senatorial districts’ caucuses.

    The motion for his adoption was moved by a House of Representatives member, Ogbuefi Ozomgbachi, and seconded by a former PDP National Secretary and member of the Board of Trustees (BoT), Chief Rex Onyeabor.

    The caucus assured Ugwuanyi of its support to win the election.

    The party said it had not barred any aspirant from contesting the governorship election, if such a person insists on participating in the primary.

    In a statement by its State Publicity Secretary, Dr. Okey Eze, the party explained that the clarification was necessary because of the “erroneous impression” in some sections of the media through an aggrieved aspirant.

    The party said the aspirant claimed that he was denied the right to participate in the governorship primary election.

    It stressed that the PDP in Enugu State had always resolved its matters through dialogue and consultations with the people.

    The Enugu PDP said such approach had always worked for the party, adding that it had never stopped other aspirants from participating in its primaries.

    It wondered why a major beneficiary of the process was raising what it called a false alarm to whip up negative sentiments against the party.

    The party stressed that the choice of Ugwuanyi did not foreclose the planned governorship primary or prevent other aspirants from taking part.

    It said Ugwuanyi would still go through the primary election to be voted for by the delegates, with other aspirants who insist on contesting.

    At the meeting were Governor Sullivan Chime, Deputy Governor Ralph Nwoye, State Chairman Vita Abba, Senator Gil Emeka Nnaji, House of Assembly Speaker Eugene Odo, Power Minister Prof Chinedu Nebo, members of the House of Representatives and members of the Board of Trustees (BoT).

    Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu reportedly took permission that he was out of the country and would abide by the outcome of the meeting.

    Other apologies were said to have been received from Jim Nwobodo; former Senate President Senator Ken Nnamani; a former Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Dubem Onyia and Senator Fidelis Okoro.

    Ugwuanyi is expected to be presented to the State Executive Committee (SEC) of the party this week for final endorsement before the governorship primary.

  • ‘Adopt Buhari as APC’s consensus candidate’

    ‘Adopt Buhari as APC’s consensus candidate’

    Supporters of former Head of State and All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain General Muhammadu Buhari are pushing for his adoption as the party’s consensus presidential candidate.

    They are putting pressure on the APC leadership to drop its plan of a Modified Direct primary adopted by the National Executive Council, saying the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would infiltrate the primary.

    One of the general’s support groups, the Buhari Vanguard, in a statement, said having a consensus candidate would save cost and prevent rancour.

    Chairman of the group Jasper Azuatalam, who signed the statement, said the group considered all relevant laws, including the Electoral Act and the party’s constitution, as they relate to the emergence of a presidential candidate and concluded that consensus was the most viable, cost-effective and unifying option for the party.

    The statement reads: “As an opposition party that has promised to reduce corruption in Nigeria, it will be in good faith to avoid an indirect primary election, which will cost so much money and lead to financial inducement by some who still believe in money politics against credibility and popularity.

    “In the same manner, an indirect primary will give the ruling party an opportunity to infiltrate the APC by influencing delegates with money and planting moles within the delegates to influence who emerges as the presidential candidate. This is because they know the candidate to beat in the APC and the PDP will do all in its power to make sure that such candidate does not emerge as the APC’s presidential standard bearer.

    “We also believe that the bitterness, rancour and disaffection that may arise from the contest will weaken the APC and give the PDP undue advantage ahead of the 2015 presidential election. It is clear from all available statistics and parameters that the PDP has no locus standi in the 2015 presidential election, as it will lose woefully in a free and fair contest because of its abysmal performance in government, which has earned them the wrath of Nigerians.

    “A consensual arrangement, as stipulated in Article 20 of the APC’s Constitution and Section 87 (6) of the Electoral Act, is surely the best option available for the APC. This will save the APC the unnecessary litigations, rancour and strife that accompany presidential primaries. If the PDP, with all the resources available to it and the power of incumbency, is working towards a consensual arrangement by adopting Goodluck Jonathan, it will be unwise for an opposition party to want to sell the dangerous region.”

  • Ugwuanyi emerges Enugu PDP consensus candidate

    Ugwuanyi emerges Enugu PDP consensus candidate

    •Eze: I’m aspirant for Enugu governorship seat  

    The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Marine, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, is the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) consensus candidate for Enugu State in the 2015 governorship election.

    But his endorsement, which elicited a lot of excitement among the residents at the weekend, has aroused bad blood between him and another aspirant, Senator Ayogu Eze.

    It was learnt that the Enugu North Senatorial District Caucus of the PDP met with the aspirants to agree on a consensus candidate.

    A source said Governor Sullivan Chime spearheaded the meeting to reduce bitterness among the aspirants.

    When the meeting ended, party faithful reportedly cheered up Ugwuanyi,  singing victory songs and praises.

    The crowd was ecstatic that Ugwuanyi (aka Gburugburu) was adopted.

    One of them, Jude Eneh, described Ugwuanyi as a humble and peace-loving gentleman, who would build bridges, sustain the development in the state and keep the PDP intact.

    Also, there was jubilation in the six local government areas in the zone when the news of the endorsement filtered in.

    Before the endorsement, a source at the meeting had told our reporter that Ugwuanyi would be chosen because the governor had pleaded with the caucus that he preferred a candidate who would unite the party and sustain his administration’s development.

    Chime reportedly advised the members of the caucus to lay out a plan to bring out a consensus candidate who would be presented to the other zones before the state caucus and the State Executive Committee of the party for endorsement.

    Following the governor’s intervention, it was learnt that the state chairman, who was also an aspirant, Vita Abba, addressed the caucus and stepped down for Ugwuanyi.

    Abba was quoted to have said that Ugwuanyi was the most suitable aspirant since he possesses the virtues the party expected from its candidate.

    After the chairman stepped down, nine of the other 11 aspirants also stepped down.

    The caucus requested that a motion be moved for his adoption as the consensus candidate.

    It was moved by Fidel Ayogu and seconded by the former Deputy Governor Okechukwu Itanyi.

    Before the motion was adopted, the governor reportedly asked the aspirants if any of them opposed the motion. The motion was unanimously adopted by a voice vote when there was no objection.

    Those who stepped down for Ugwuanyi are Abba, Eddy Ugwu, Chief Okechukwu Itanyi, Pat Asadu, Prince Mathew Agu, Ambassador Fidel Ayogu, Prof. Osita Ogbu, Chief Ikeje Asogwa, Prof. Simon Ortuanya and Dan Onyishi.

    Chime advised Ugwuanyi to mend fences with those who refused to step down for him.

    Ugwuanyi has reportedly visited one of those who declined to step down, Eugene Odo, the House of Assembly Speaker. He held a closed-door meeting with him.

    The outcome of the meeting was not made public last night.

    Ugwuanyi is billed to meet other stakeholders in the next few days.

    Also, Eze, who chairs the Senate Committee on Works, has said he remains an aspirant in the race for next year’s Enugu State governorship seat.

    Eze made the clarification yesterday to oppose the alleged endorsement of Ugwuanyi.

    In a statement in Abuja, titled: I am Still the Candidate to Beat for Enugu Government House 2015, the senator said he would not step down for any “anointed” candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    He said the consensus candidate of various interest groups in the state should be allowed to test their acceptability at a primary election to determine who flies the PDP flag for the governorship election.

    The statement said: “I’ve been inundated by calls and personal visits by my supporters, who have expressed worry and outrage about reports purporting that a consensus candidate has been anointed for Enugu State 2015 governorship election. My supporters are particularly worried by the aspect of the story claiming that I have stepped down for the anointed candidate.

    “I wish to state clearly and unambiguously that I have not and will not step down for any anointed candidate. I’m still squarely in the race for the Enugu Lion Building in 2015.

    “I was invited to a meeting of a gathering of the people of my senatorial district, presided over by the governor at the Governor’s Lodge in Enugu on Friday, September 26, 2014.

    “Prior to our arrival at the Government House, the agenda of the meeting was not circulated; neither was the criterion for selecting those attending the meeting made known to me.

    “At the meeting, I pointedly stated that although I was in their midst in a sort of an ambush, I was not bound by their decision, to which I believe they were entitled. It is their inalienable right to choose a consensus candidate in the same manner that to my supporters and well wishers I’m also a consensus candidate.

    “I look forward to all the consensus candidates of the various interest groups meeting in the field at the PDP governorship primaries on November 29, to test who, among the various consensus blocs, is numerically stronger.

    “Democracy is about elections and the will of the people. Those elements of democracy will be put to test when we arrive on the field for the primaries.

    “I’ll gladly accept the outcome of the primaries and go the extra mile to work for the party with resources and whatever it will take to give the opponents of the PDP a run for their money.

    “Let me state categorically that my respect for the governor and leader of PDP in Enugu State is not diminished in anyway by this development. My loyalty to the party is also unalloyed.

    “I urge the party to do the right thing by providing a level-playing field for all legitimate aspirants and consensus to express themselves in a truly democratic and fair manner…”

  • Jonathan as sole PDP candidate?

    SIR: The presentation of Goodluck Jonathan as Peoples Democratic Party candidate for the 2015 presidential election fulfils the desire of few groups and individuals. The adoption of Jonathan is not a surprise as it has been something long expected; rather what came as the surprise is the “sole candidate” which is Jonathan.

    Having a sole candidate for the most coveted political position in a political party like the Peoples Democratic Party tells of the hidden rancor and disintegration going on within the party. After the dissolution of a faction of the party which called themselves New PDP, many had thought that the party has come together in unison but this act of adopting Jonathan as the sole presidential candidate makes it crystal clear that there is still division within the party.

    The automatic cancellation of the presidential primary which was scheduled for December 6 means that Jigawa State governor, Sule Lamido and Speaker of the house of Representative, Honourable Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, both nursing ambition on the party ticket, have to look elsewhere if they are still interested in the position or settle for less. It is quite evident that Hon. Tambuwal will defect to All Progressives Congress (APC) to compete with General Muhammadu Buhari, Atiku Abubakar and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso for the ticket of the party.

    With the defection of Aliyu Wamakko and impending defection of Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, it tells of the looming division in the house of PDP.

     

    • Oyetunji Oluwatobi,

     University of Ibadan

  • ‘PDP candidate must stop propagating falsehood’

    ‘PDP candidate must stop propagating falsehood’

    The All Progressives Congress has appealed to the media to be careful about the falsehood by the state’s Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its governorship candidate, Iyiola Omisore, to allegedly manipulate information to distort facts about Osun politics and the August 9 governorship election.

    Its Director of Publicity, Research and Strategy, Kunle Oyatomi, in a statement yesterday, said that it was disturbed by the repetitive falsehood of Omisore in the last three years over  Rufus Akeju.

    The APC said Omisore had been lying against Akeju and the APC that the former ambassador was a protégé of Bola Ahmed Tinubu and had bias for Tinubu’s political affiliation; first for the ACN and now for the APC.

    The party said: “The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has refused to accept Omisore’s allegations against Akeju, except Omisore can substantiate them with incontrovertible evidence in the court of law.

    “For three years now, Omisore has avoided the court, yet he keeps propagating falsehood in the media, believing that Nigerians generally, and Osun people in particular were so unintelligent that they can hardly distinguished truth from falsehood.

    “The insult on the intelligence of Nigerians has to stop. And only the media can stop it.”

    It stated this yesterday while reacting to Omisore’s allegation that Prof. Attahiru Jega has redeployed Akeju to Osun to frustrate PDP’s petition at the tribunal.

    Omisore was reported to have addressed reporters in Osogbo last Saturday, alleging that the purpose Akeju was returned to Osun by Jega was to ‘stultify, scuttle, frustrate and hinder the process of inspecting the electoral materials used for the August poll by installing obstacles to slow or hinder the PDP’s efforts to inspect the materials.

    But the party said Omisore tried to further play on the intelligence of everybody by rehearsing a dead event when he referred to a so-called Federal High Court injunction, preventing Akeju from parading himself as Osun REC. The INEC immediately appealed that ruling.

    “But the PDP, in a strange move, went back to the court to withdraw the case. That move by the PDP surprised the judge who had adjourned the matter sine die since 2010 till date

    “In effect Akeju stands vindicated until proved guilty of allegation against his integrity by Omisore and the PDP.

    The APC therefore challenged Omisore to show Nigerians and the world through the media what contrary judgment he had to show that Akeju was compromised.

  • Makinde: I’m the candidate to beat

    Makinde: I’m the candidate to beat

    A governorship aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, has said he is the candidate to beat during the party’s primaries.

    Makinde, a 47-year-old engineer, who has operated in the oil and gas sector for 20 years, said he is the best candidate to challenge Governor Abiola Ajimobi from among the 13 aspirants bidding for the PDP ticket.

    Among the aspirants is former Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala, who has launched his campaign bid.

    The aspirant told reporters that a repeat of the Alao-Akala for PDP, Ajimobi for the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Ex-Governor Rashidi Ladoja for Accord in a governorship race, would not be in PDP’s favour.

    “The scenario of these three men gunning for the seat will not be in the interest of the PDP. The PDP needs a new face and ideas which I represent.

    “I am the only aspirant, who has not offended anybody,” Makinde said.

    The aspirant said: “The Ajimobi government has “underachieved” in many areas, including education and in reducing “the crippling poverty among our people.”

    Makinde said if he gets the PDP ticket, his focus would be on education, agriculture, health and building of infrastructure.

    To him, there has been nothing to write home about on agriculture in Oyo State “whereas agriculture is Oyo State’s black gold.”

    On education, he said pupils still study in poor environment while teachers are not motivated.

    While acknowledging that the Ajimobi government has built some roads in urban areas, he questioned “the economic benefits of such roads.”

  • Searching for APC’s consensus candidate

    The above was stoked by The Cable, the new but increasingly popular online newspaper in its analysis of the different aspirants on September 1. Perhaps the issue should be: Does the APC really want to win the presidential election next year? If they want to win, then, they must do their homework. As it appears today, there is nothing to suggest that they really, really want to win. Any party that wants to choose a consensus candidate among several aspirants must use certain objective criteria devoid of selfish interests. To do so, the APC must ponder what the key issues are right now that are likely going to influence the direction of voting next year. In my opinion, there are four key issues.

    First, Nigeria has become dangerously polarized on the issue of religion caused directly by the Boko Haram phenomenon and President Jonathan’s divisive actions along those lines. This appears to be PDP’s main strategy for 2015 as the party’s bigwigs continue to associate the APC with Boko Haram without bordering to back up their assertion with any evidence. It would also appear that the PDP has enlisted the SSS in this dangerous strategy considering the fact that Marilyn Ogar, the spokesperson of the SSS has started echoing that line too recently.

    Secondly, beating a sitting president has so far not been possible in Nigeria no matter how unpopular he is. To defeat particularly this one will require the mobilization of the entire country, in order to neutralize the rigging machine.

    Third, Jonathan has currently been roundly branded, and rightly so, as incompetent and unfit to govern, and therefore extremely unpopular but that does not necessarily mean any APC candidate can defeat him.

    Finally, the unity of the north shall also be key as this will determine whether a northern candidate can win in 2015. To defeat Jonathan in 2015, APC must field a candidate who has the capacity to unite the whole north and who can be supported by all the contending and power centres within the party. The credential of that candidate must also be such as to be able to neutralize Jonathan and PDP’s strategy of balkanizing the nation along petty religious lines in the 2015 election.

    So in determining which of the APC presidential aspirants comes closest to qualifying as a consensus candidate using these criteria, let us re-examine the names mentioned by The Cable viz Muhammadu Buhari, Atiku Abubakar, Rabiu Kwankwaso, Aminu Tambuwal and Sam Nda-Isaiah.

    I will also examine the prospects of Rochas Okorocha and Bukola Saraki

    Buhari is a very well-respected former head of state; straight as an arrow. His greatest strength is that he is very popular among the masses of the far north. But history has shown that politicians with such massive following among their people are held in suspicion in other parts of the country. Very popular politicians of old who fall into that category and never became president include Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Mallam Aminu Kano and Dr. Joseph Tarka. That is the real reason why Buhari lost in 2003, 2007 and 2011. Buhari’s case has also been worsened by the fact that his opponents have successfully branded him as a fundamentalist. Even though there is no evidence to support this, the perception has stuck. It does not matter who Buhari’s running mate is, that perception will stick. That is why in spite of Pastor Tunde Bakare, a well-known Christian clergy being his running mate in 2011, he lost almost all of the Christian votes in Nigeria. Buhari’s supporters always brandish his over 12 million votes in the 2011 presidential election as the strongest reason he should be APC’s candidate, but they forget that of this more than 12 million votes, less than 250,000 votes came from the entire 17 states of the south and probably even less from the Christian north.

    There are other reasons why Buhari may not even get the 12 million votes again. There is the Buhari fatigue. After contesting in 2003, 2007 and 2011, many people think he should not be contesting in 2015 again. Many also believe that a 70-year old should not be contesting to be president especially for a man that was head of state 30 years ago.

    Not many people both within the APC and outside think Atiku should be the APC presidential candidate. ( Atiku has too many baggage and if the APC presents him, it will show the party as an utterly unserious party.

    Kwankwaso has done well as the governor of Kano State. He is one of the PDP governors who crossed over to the APC because Jonathan will not be keeping his promise of not seeking a second term and therefore would be denied the party’s ticket. If Kwankwaso gets the ticket, then the 2015 presidential election will be between PDP and New PDP. Even the PDP will laugh at the APC. And many original opposition politicians will remind themselves that in 2003, they had to virtually wrestle Kwankwaso to the ground in order to replace him as the governor of Kano State. Buhari and his followers in Kano will be reminded that in the 2003 governorship election, Kwankwaso, together with Obasanjo tried to use the military to alter the peoples’ will. Kwankwaso will most certainly be a good president but giving him the ticket can break the party. He is also far from being the ideal consensus candidate.

    There have been rumours of Speaker Aminu Tambuwal decamping from the PDP to the APC and contesting for the APC presidential ticket almost immediately. His candidacy could satisfy the yearnings of a large section of the country for a generational shift, but it will simply be laughable for the speaker, or anyone for that matter to officially decamp from the PDP to the APC tomorrow and the day after, he becomes the party’s presidential candidate. The speaker cannot be a consensus candidate by any stretch of the imagination.

    Sam Nda-Isaiah, publisher of Leadership newspapers is not a political heavyweight. He has never contested any election and has never occupied any public office, so no one knows how he might behave in public office. But his campaigners say that also makes him the only real face of change among all the aspirants since “change” is the APC’s slogan. It is probably true that no other APC aspirant can really claim to represent change as Sam. At 52, he is also one of the youngest aspirants and therefore a representative of the school of generational shift. Being a Christian minority from the north could eliminate Jonathan’s key and pivotal support in the Christian north. Because of the activities of Boko Haram and President Jonathan’s divisive politics, no Muslim candidate would be able to receive northern Christian support. But Sam also has another critical advantage. Northern Muslims feel very comfortable with him in a way that they do not with some other Christian northerners such as Professor Jerry Gana, for instance. So Sam’s candidacy, in spite of his scanty political CV has the potential of uniting the entire north. His fresh face in politics with little political baggage and a popular south-west Muslim running mate can also deprive Jonathan of the entire south-west votes, since his candidacy can also neutralize Jonathan’s south-west Christian vote advantage.

    Sam’s major problem is that he does not appear to posses the campaign war-chest like the other aspirants.(

    The former governor of Kwara State, Bukola Saraki also has age on his side and will also represent those with the thought of generational shift. He also did well as a governor so can be counted to be a good president. But he is hampered by a couple of issues. First, like Atiku, Kwankwaso and Tambuwal, he is of the PDP stock. In fact in 2011, Atiku and Saraki were presidential aspirants on the platform of the PDP. The second is that he is currently under investigation by the EFCC. Even though the EFCC issue is clearly a tool of victimization of the Jonathan government against him, the APC cannot field a candidate with this unresolved problem.

    The main issue against Rochas Okorocha at this time is that the APC has technically zoned the presidency to the north in 2015. It is clear that the APC has very limited choices if it really wants to win the presidency come 2015. It is obvious that the closest the APC has to presenting a consensus candidate is Sam Nda-Isaiah. Sam’s candidacy will put a lie to PDP’s label on the APC as a Muslim party, which unfortunately have been swallowed hook, line and sinker by a section of the international community. But if the APC big guns decide they are not comfortable with him, they can try their own logic. But the truth is that 2015 is probably APC’s best chance of coming to power. If they bungle this one, Nigerians will not forgive them and they will not have another chance to correct this.

     

    • Danjuma wrote in from Hotoro Quarters, Kano.