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Tag: chair

  • Voters sell votes to highest bidder during polls –Centre

    The Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) on Saturday in Abuja said voters were scrambling to sell their votes to the highest bidder during Saturday elections.

    Prof. Adele Jinadu, Chair, CDD Election Analysis Centre (EAC), while briefing newsmen said vote-buying prevailed in spite of the warning by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies and the anti-corruption agencies.

    Jinadu said that the centre sent out observers to monitor the elections in the states and came out with its findings.

    “On the ground, our observers reported seeing EFCC arresting people involved in vote buying, for example, the EFCC arrested some prominent party stalwarts in Benue and Kwara.

    “However, reports from our observers indicated significant role played by voters and politicians in the vote trading market.

    “The trend as we observed, is that voters are bargaining for a higher amount and sold their votes to the party with the ability to meet their demand.

    “In Polling Unit (PU) 011, Madobi Ward, Madobi LGA, Kano State, vote traded for between N3,000 and N4,000.

    “In PU 02, ward 4 Oke Balogun Epe local government area, Lagos State, party agents were seen writing down the names of voters who were expected to collect a paltry amount of N1,500 each.’’

    Jinadu said that CDD’s observers reported cases in which politicians offered ad-hoc officials’ money at the Registration Area Centres (RACs).

    “For example, in a RAC in Ikosi Senior High School, Ikosi-Ketu, Kosofe-Lagos, a presiding officer alleged that politicians offered them N5,000 each which they refused.

    “The ad-hoc staff turned down the offer but instead demanded that they should be paid N40,000 while some of them requested N20,000,’’ he said

    Read also: Be vigilant at collation centres, Ogun APC tells party agents

    Jinadu said that another worrying trend observed was that supporters of mainstream party were disguising as members of smaller parties to buy votes for their parties.

    He added that CDD gathered that agents of smaller parties were influenced to purchase votes on behalf of the dominant parties.

    Jinadu said that before the commencement of voting, a number of incidents that were capable of disrupting the election were reported by the observers.

    He said that in Benue, armed hoodlums razed down a school in Aya containing electoral materials meant for Mbalom ward in Gwer East Local Government Area (LGA) of the state.

    He added that other cases were abduction of a corps member, election materials were destroyed and INEC officials were attacked, thereby, disenfranchising many voters.

    Jinadu said that in spite promises to improve the safety and welfare of corps members in this election, the day witnessed protests by ad-hoc staff who threatened not to carry out their duties until INEC cleared pending allowances.

    He said that there were also cases of killings in Ahoada West Local Government area of Rivers, Ndoni, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA, Rivers and abduction of a youth corper in Etinan Ward in Akwa Ibom state.

    According to him, this is extremely disturbing, and called on security agencies to ensure that appropriate steps are taken to prevent further incidents of violence likely to negatively impact the outcome of the elections. (NAN)

  • Chair: INEC ready for credible polls

    Barely two months to the 2019 general elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said it is prepared to conduct a credible exercise.

    The commission has slated  February 16, 2019 for the presidential and National Assembly elections. March 2 is for the governorship elections in 27 states and 37 state assemblies as well as the FCT council election.

    Speaking yesterday after his meeting with the head of the European Union (EU) delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS,  Ketil Karlson, INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu stated that the commission “is prepared to conduct an election that would be an improvement on previous election”.

    On the issue of amendment to the electoral law, Prof. Yakubu noted that there will be no difference as the electoral umpire has been conducting itself within the ambit of the law.

    “For us there is no legal lacuna as a law exist, but if it is accented to then we will abide by the provisions of the new law, but as we speak, there is no legal lacuna, we have taken the actions we have taken so far legitimately under the provisions of the law as it exist and nothing has changed.”

    He also assured that steps have been taken to guarantee an all inclusive election, adding that, “for the first time in Anambra, we introduce magnifying glasses for those with visual impairment, in the Osun election; we introduce tactile balloting, meaning that those with visual impairment who can read with brail and can vote are assisted”.

    He said the commission is looking at all possibilities that would ensure people with disabilities exercise their franchise.

    Karlson expressed hope that the electoral  body will do a food job come 2019.

    He also noted that the EU has been a worthy  partner with the country in the effort to stabilise democracy.

    Karlson stressed that the EU has committed more than a 100 million Euros in support of democratic processes in Nigeria since the return of democracy in 1999.

    The supports which entails institutional and technical, according him, aimed at ensuring elections in the country are free, fair, credible and peaceful.

    Karlson added that as part of its support to Nigeria’s democracy, the EU has just concluded tours of the six geopolitical zones, educating youths and women on the essence of participating in the 2019 general elections.

    He said: “EU has been supporting INEC for a very long time, it is not something that we started doing just ahead of the elections, as a matter of fact we have been providing institutional support and technically support to INEC for a very long time. And as some of you may have seen we have done something very innovative, doing a youth vote count campaign throughout the country, in all the six geopolitical zones including a number of celebrities. Through that we have literally reached million of youths and potential voters and educated them about the importance of their participation.”

  • IBB, Jonathan reject PDP governors choice for chair

    IBB, Jonathan reject PDP governors choice for chair

    Four governors may dump Secondus 

    Battle for 2019 deepens crisis

    There are moves to checkmate some Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP ) governors pushing to install the party’s chairman at Saturday’s convention, sources said at the weekend.

    Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike is leading the plan to put former Interim Chairman Uche Secondus on the much coveted seat.

    But former military President Ibrahim Babangida, some PDP  founding fathers, ex-President Goodluck Jonathan and members of the Board of Trustees (BoT) may have teamed up to block the governors whose ranks may have been broken.

    Four governors, including two from the Southeast,  may jettison the plan to make a former Acting National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, the chairman, it was learnt at the weekend.

    A party source said: “We are set for a make or break convention between the old brigades, led by Gen. Babangida and Jonathan, and the governors.”

    With Gen. Babangida are founding fathers, like former Minister of Information  Prof. Jerry Gana, ex-PDP national chairmen, including Sen. Ahmadu Ali, members of the BoT, ex-ministers, ex-governors and former Deputy Senate President Ibrahim Mantu.

    The new brigade includes Wike, Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose, Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu and state party chairmen “who want to put an end to godfatherism and hijack the structure of the party”.

    The source, who pleaded not to be named, went on: “The hidden plan of the two groups is the battle for the 2019 presidential ticket of the PDP. So far, it is apparent that the founding fathers and Jonathan are beholding to former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, to whom they want to give the ticket

    “The governors seem to have a focus on another candidate either an ex-governor or a defector into the party. The game is tough because whoever controls the structure of the party may produce the PDP flagbearer for the 2019 presidential poll.

    “As it is now, the governors are in control of more delegates than the founding fathers who are scavenging for delegates. Even ex-President Goodluck Jonathan is not sure of the 50 per dent control of delegates from Bayelsa State.”

    A former member of the NWC said: “Gen. Babangida, Jonathan and others are determined to tame the governors. They have succeeded in breaking their ranks because four of the PDP governors may back out of their colleagues plans to install Secondus as the next chairman.

    “The governors have decided to abandon their colleagues following plea from Babangida and Jonathan.

    “But the governors have the resources to make it a battle to the finish. The old brigades depend on goodwill whereas delegates need lifeline because the party had been out of power for two and a half years.”

    “Babangida is crying out now because he has seen the handwriting on the wall that these governors are in charge. The founding fathers are banking on votes from the North to stop the governors from hijacking the party.

    The source said: “The situation is dicey. The party may end up in a deeper crisis because the chairman that will emerge might cause a split. Once we are in a crisis, 2019 presidential poll will be an easy ride for APC.”

    It was learnt that a former National Security Adviser Gen. Aliyu Gusau, has been the arrowhead of the outreach by PDP founding fathers to the governors to allow the chairman to come from Southwest. They are working for Prof. Tunde Adeniran.

    “Gen. Gusau has been trying to restore the ideals of PDP as espoused by Gen. Babangida and other founding fathers. But the governors may fight the old brigades to a standstill.”

  • IBB frightened by deployment of cash to ‘buy’ PDP chair

    IBB frightened by deployment of cash to ‘buy’ PDP chair

    Former military President Ibrahim Babangida yesterday warned against monetary inducement of delegates at Saturday’s Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP ) Convention.

    He urged delegates to learn from the defeat of the party in the 2015 election.

    Babangida’s intervention has heightened the tempo of the intrigues ahead of the election of national chairman.

    Gen. Babangida, in a statement through his media adviser Prince Kassim Afegbua, said: “In the countdown to the convention; as founding fathers and stakeholders, we need to collectively assure Nigerians and our teeming members that we have indeed learnt our bitter lessons.

    “ Following the defeat of the party in the 2015 election, it is incumbent upon us as leaders and stakeholders to use the opportunity of the convention to soberly reflect on the challenges confronting us, identify our flaws and seek plausible ways to correct them in order to come out stronger in subsequent elections.

    “An elective convention presents, as it were, a rare opportunity and veritable platform to elect in a holistic manner a credible, tested, down-to-earth and truly urbane candidate with enough stamina, distinguished character and national acceptability who is driven by incurable optimism and passion for a united Nigeria.”

    Giving the attributes he felt the chairman should possess, Gen. Babangida said: “At this point of our political history as a party, we need a National Chairman who is driven by uncommon initiatives, creativity in ideas and a rich content of character to lead and stabilise the party in line with the laudable ideals of the founding fathers of the party.

    “Such an individual must possess national recognition to be able to galvanise political opportunities and transform them into tangible outcomes in our democratic engagements.

    “When we were conceptualising the idea of the PDP at formation, we had in mind a party that offers platform for all Nigerians in their pursuit of legitimate political aspirations.

    “ In any democratic engagement, the people decide the outcome of elections through popular and inclusive participation.

    “The monetisation of our electoral process is disturbingly eroding that power which should ordinarily reside in the people.

    “In the last few days, I get frightened by the monetary consideration that is likely to dictate who emerges as the National Chairman of our great party rather than what the people truly want. The discussion is more on the side of heavy monetisation of the process and ultimate ‘procurement’ of the position of the Chairman by the highest bidder.

    “This approach, in my humble view, defeats the whole essence of participation, free choice and voting which are the essential attributes of any democracy without inducement and outright manipulation. I wish to plead that we tread on the path of caution and common sense, conscious of our recent history of avoidable political crisis.

    “At 76, and given the benefit of hindsight, my role both in context and content; is now more of advisory one to enhance any altruistic democratic process to elect credible leadership at various levels of representation.

    “Rather than de-monetise the electoral process to provide ample room for more citizens’ participation, the idea of monetising the process and trying to ‘procure’ party positions defeats merit, offends good conscience and blurs fair play.”

    He reeled out his expectations from the convention and why PDP leaders should learn from the party’s dismal outing in 2015 general elections.

    The statement said: “At this critical stage of our political secretions, we need men of stature, discipline, character and commendable conduct to breathe fresh air into our party and not persons whose political relevance is the product of naira and kobo bargain across the counter.

    “We need a National Chairman that would not bend to the vagaries of individual selfish interest but one who is strong enough to apply the rule of law without fear or favour. We must begin the process of interrogating processes that lead to outcomes and not just the outcomes.

    “We must interrogate our leadership recruitment process and encourage our delegates to exercise the power of their thumbs in making their preferred choice among the candidates.

    “On the strength of this, I wish to make a passionate appeal to our members, party leaders and the members of the Convention Committee to be fair and just to all, and allow the process to produce a National Chairman that would truly represent the conscience of the party.

    “I do subscribe to the idea that consensus building, collective bargaining and constructive engagement are some of the ingredients that nurture any democratic process; such ingredients should be given enough room to flourish in order to birth credible and truly representative leadership.

    “Our party, the PDP, must re-invent and re-enact itself on account of her recent history of factions and fractures. The new leadership must therefore be one that enjoys the confidence of the majority stakeholders and members in order to have a seamless transition.

    “To achieve this template, such a chairman must be the outcome of delegates’ election without manipulation and inducement.

    “One would have thought that after the 2015 dismal outing, followed by months of leadership tussles, individuals would have put to rest their selfish and egocentric interest and pursue goals and objectives that bear true testimony to the ideals of the founding fathers; but the sound bites of monetization of the process are utterly demoralizing and benumbing.

    “It is my strong belief therefore that leaders of the party irrespective of their political interest would allow reason and level playing field to prevail in the overall interest of the party. I wish the party a successful and peaceful convention on Saturday 9th December, 2017.”

  • Kashamu: let Southwest produce chair to save PDP

    Kashamu: let Southwest produce chair to save PDP

    Senator Buruji Kashamu has urged Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) founding fathers, governors and delegates, to ensure the emergence of the chairman from the South West to save the party.

    He said this was the agreement reached before the party’s botched Port Harcourt convention.

    In a statement yesterday, Kashamu accused the national caretaker committee of attempting to manipulate the convention to satisfy a micro interest that could derail the on-going reconciliation process at bringing the party back into reckoning.

    He said it was frustrating that rather than working for the convention to heal the wound of the party from the last election, some governors and caretaker national chairman Ahmed Makarfi, were busy perfecting plans to suit their personal interest against the general interest of millions of party members.

    Kashamu said: “I urge our existing founding fathers, all PDP party men and women , convention delegates from the entire North, the South East, South West and South South including Governor Wike himself, to allow the voice of reason prevail and allow the emergence of the first-ever South West national chairman.

    “Let’s jointly and severally prevent the hijacking of the PDP which, more likely than not, would lead to her dismemberment.

    “The forthcoming elective PDP national convention would rank first in the mischievously muddled up zoning arrangements of party offices in the history of the party.

    “Even at the inception of the PDP when the presidential ticket was contentious and generally zoned to the South, it was after being robustly debated by all the six zones and unanimously resolved in the interest of party unity and prevailing national exigencies without clandestine moves.

    “Not only that, the electoral process of that convention, particularly the delegates compilation, was painstakingly transparent, lacking in impunity and easily verifiable, unlike current disobedience of court judgements/orders and these outright ceding of party state structures to favourites.

    “That’s the legacy upon which PDP was built by the founding fathers unlike this Makarfi’s work-to-answer manipulations.  Witnessing this ongoing charade, one can’t but salute the PDP founding fathers for their uncommon integrity and penchant to public order and service.

    “The least that could be done to the memory of Solomon Lar, Chief Awoniyi, Dr Alex Ekwueme etc, being the dead among them; is for major stakeholders to rise in unison to obstruct the current administrative manipulations of some few people in chanced official positions over the multitudes. Otherwise, how can a generally agreed national chairmanship zoned to the Southwest pre-Port Harcourt convention now become indefinable under an unelected Makarfi as chairman?

    “The unambiguously credible position of the Northern Elders Forum to support the previously agreed popular zoning of the National Chairmanship to the Southwest is very honourable and highly commendable.

    “Makarfi has indeed allowed his undeserved presidential ambition to becloud his decisions and actions in this his interim caretaker position.

    “How on earth does Makarfi think that his genuflecting to Governor Wike would endear PDP national unity and progress? Carrying such absurdity to the ridiculous extent of confronting his primary Northern constituency, all because of his blind ambitious mirage is really pitiable.”

  • PDP’s impunity is gone, says Kwara chair

    PDP’s impunity is gone, says Kwara chair

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said that its past impunity and cleavages are gone for good.

    The Kwara state Caretaker Committee Chairman, Chief Tunde Akindehin, told reporters in Ilorin, the state capital, that PDP “is a changed party.”

    Said he: “We have formally resumed today September 5, 2017. Some other members of the committee led by the secretary resumed yesterday.

    “PDP is a changed party. We have come with a big bang with a lot of activities, innovations, re-engineering and impunity of the past is gone for good. So Nigerians should have confidence in ability to now bring a robust, civilized political activity to the state.

    “We will also appeal to the press not to at anytime hesitate to either get to any principal officer of the party at the state level or myself to clarify anything that is not clear on the activities of the party.

    “We can assure you we have come here to bridge all the misgivings of the past to ensure that peace, unity is returned permanently to the party.”

    Akindehin added: “No more cleavages, the cleavages of the past would be a thing of the past. We will ensure that everybody is carried along in the decision making of the party and that recruitment of members is transparent.

    “We don’t know how the Nigerian ship is being wrecked. And for those who are conscious of the future of our children, we must wake up from our slumber to enthrone good governance and democracy. PDP will not be short of that. We promise you. By the time we address to you tomorrow, we will roll out our plans for the party in the state.”

  • LCCI honours Jagal Group chair

    LCCI honours Jagal Group chair

    Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has bestowed the Business Legacy Award on Mr. Anwar Jarmakani, the Group Executive Chairman of Jagal, in recognition of his contributions to nation-building and socio-economic development.

    The event held in Lagos where  captains of industry and notable personalities converged to celebrate corporate organisations, public institutions and individuals that have contributed meaningfully to the development of commerce and industry in Nigeria.

    LCCI President, Mrs. Nike Akande, while presenting the award to Mr. Anwar Jarmakani, said the recipient through the conglomerate has contributed immensely to nation-building.

    Jagal Group’s Co-CEO, Mr. Manssour Jarmakani, who received the award for Jarmakani said: “The LCCI is highly commended for recognising the significant role Jagal Group has been playing in providing world class products and service to different sectors through its diverse investments in technology, real estate construction, health and hygiene in addition to providing employment for thousands of Nigerians.”

    He said the Jagal Group is dedicated to empowering people and building strategic partnership  aimed at achieving sustainable growth in the host communities.

    Jarmakani, a member of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group,  founded the Jagal Group in March 1978.

    A busniess mogul, entrepreneur, he is one of the first generation of private sector pioneers in the post- independent Nigeria. He has panache for vision, leadership and integrity.

  • APDA gets new BoT chair

    The Advanced Peoples’ Democratc Alliance (APDA) National Executive Committe (NEC) has selected Mallam Mainasara Illo as its new Board of Trustees (BoT) Chairman and Chief Dan Nwanyanwu  as National Chairman.

    The new appointments followed the are the expiraton of the tenure of the interim NWC members on June 14. The decision on the appointment was taken by two-third of NEC members, who also deliberated on the modalities for rebranding the party.

    Apart from resolving to contest the November 18 governorship election in Anambra State, the party leaders also deliberated on the membership drive to reflect national outlook.

    A committee for  massive and aggressive membership drive throughout   the   country was set up.

    Other   national   officers   whose   appointment   were   confirmed include Yakubu Mohammed Tanko, Deputy National Chairman (North), Dr. Fijabi Adebo, Deputy National Chairman (South), Amobi Nwosu, National secretary, and Ide Eguabor, National Publicity Secretary.

  • Court sacks Code of Conduct Bureau chair, board

    Court sacks Code of Conduct Bureau chair, board

    Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court, Abuja has sacked the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) Sam Saba and nine other members of the organisation’s board.

    Justice Nyako in a judgment yesterday, held that the five-year  tenure of the CCB board expired on April 2015.

    The  judgment was on a suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/411/2016 filed by a group – Kingdom Human Rights Foundation International (KGRFI) led by Okere Nnamdi.

    Justice Nyako was of the view that by virtue of section  155 (1) (c) and Paragraph  1, Part 1, Third Schedule of the  1999 Constitution (as amended), Saba and others, all of whom were appointed in 2010, were only entitled to stay in office for five years.

    The judge declined to issue an order compelling the President to remove and replace Saba and the nine other board  members, as prayed by the plaintiff.

    She however, directed the AGF to advise the President on the state of the tenure of members of the CCB board.

    Justice Nyako particularly granted the prayer for “a declaration of the honourable court that the tenure of office  of  the Chairman and nine other members of the Code of Conduct  Bureau  has elapsed since April 2015;  in view  of section  155 (1) (c) and Paragraph  1, Part 1, Third Schedule of the  1999 Constitution (as amended).”

    The judge granted partially, the two other main reliefs in which the plaintiff sought a declaration that the AGF had failed in his responsibility by not advising the President on the expiration of the tenure of the Chairman and members of the CCB.

    Justice Nyako directed the AGF to give the President the needed advice on the issue.

    The judge declined to grant the consequential reliefs sought by the plaintiff, seeking  orders of mandamus compelling the President to remove and appointment replacement for  Saba and others.

    Justice Nyako said such reliefs seeking an order of mandamus could only brought under an application for judicial review not under an originating summons as filed in the case.

    The judge also rejected the plaintiff’s the prayer for an order of mandamus directing the Independent Corrupt Practices and  other Related Offences Commission and the Economic  and Financial  Crimes Commission “to immediately arrest, investigate and prosecute  the Chairman and nine other members of the CCB” for allegedly pertuating themselves in office fraudulently.

    Defendants in the suit were President Muhammadu Buhari, the AGF and the CCB.

  • Nigeria re-elected into UN Peacekeeping Committee

    Nigeria re-elected into UN Peacekeeping Committee

    Nigeria has been re-elected, for the 45th time, to chair the UN Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations, regarded as UN’s most strategic committee, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

    The UN Correspondent of NAN reports that Nigeria was re-elected in spite of some hesitations by some countries to let Nigeria continue to lead the most critical committee.

    Nigeria has chaired the special committee on peacekeeping operations from 1972 till date.

    Over the years, some Member States have covertly expressed their reservations over the rare honour accorded to Nigeria, especially in view of its declining participation in UN peacekeeping operations.

    The election was conducted by the Under-Secretary-General for the Department of Peacekeeping Operations, Mr Herve Ladsous and the Chef de Cabinet of the UN Secretary-General, Ms Maria Viotti.

    Nigeria was elected by acclamation.

    Others elected are: Argentina, First Vice Chair; Canada, Second Vice Chair; Japan, Third Vice Chair; Poland, Fourth Vice Chair; and Egypt, Rapporteur.

    NAN reports that Nigeria is the 14th largest troops contributing nation to UN Peacekeeping operations and eighth in Africa, according to the last data published by the UN Peacekeeping Department.

    The data showed that Nigeria contributed 2,170 peacekeeping personnel in 2016, made up of 403 policemen, 46 military experts and 1, 721 troops, out of which 232 were females.

    UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, after the election, congratulated Nigeria on its re-election as well as other members of the committee.

    “I offer best wishes to all the members of the Committee as you identify a way forward at this critical time for international peace and security.

    “Peacekeeping is a partnership in which  Member States deploy their political will, financial resources, military and police capabilities.

    “Above all, Member States put the lives of their citizens on the line to transform conflict into sustainable peace,” Guterres, represented by  Viotti, said.

    “As the nature of conflict changes and we face new challenges such as asymmetric threats, transnational crime and the expanding reach of terrorists and extremists, the structures and practices designed even 10 years ago are not always keeping pace.

    “The United Nations has to be more nimble, pragmatic and flexible in its ability to plan, launch and manage a more diverse range of operations,” the Secretary-General added.

    He urged the committee to consider carefully the recommendation of the 2015 peace and security review, echoed in Security Council resolution 2242, to surpass the current three per cent participation of women peacekeepers.

    On his part, Ladsous, the Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, stressed the need to adapt peacekeeping operations to the changing global context.

    After the re-election, Nigeria introduced two new paragraphs for adoption into the 2017 report.

    The first was on the impact of illicit financial flows on resource mobilization and sustainable development, with a call for a return of proceeds of such flows to their countries of origin.

    The second took note of the Donald Kaberuka report on potions for funding AU peace support operations authorized by the Security Council.

    The two texts were adopted alongside other major recommendations.

    The Special Committee was established by General Assembly resolution 2006 (XIX) of Feb. 18, 1965, to conduct a comprehensive review of all issues relating to peacekeeping.

    It is comprises 147 Member States, mostly past or current contributors to peacekeeping operations, while 14 other Member States, intergovernmental organizations and entities, including AU and Interpol are observers.