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Tag: Chief Segun Oni

  • Supreme Court resumes hearing in Ekiti governor’s, Oni’s case today

    THE Supreme Court will today resume hearing in the case between the former All Progressives Congress (APC) Deputy Chairman (Southwest), Chief Segun Oni and Ekiti State Governor Dr. Kayode Fayemi.

    The panel hearing the case comprises Justices Musa Dattijo (presiding), Aba Aaji, Amina Adamu-Augie, Kumai Akaahs and John Okoro.

    The apex court is expected to resolve the issue of who is a public officer in the suit in which Oni is challenging Fayemi’s eligibility to contest the Ekiti governorship election on July 14, last year, on APC’s platform.

    Justice U.N. Agomo of the Federal High Court in Ado-Ekiti held that Fayemi was eligible to contest the election because as a minister (as he then was) he could not be described as a public officer as contemplated under Section 318 of the 1999 Constitution

    Last February 12, the Court of Appeal sitting in Ado-Ekiti upheld the verdict, saying: “It is clear from the foregoing the first respondent (Fayemi) as Minister of Mines and Steel, even though in the Public Service of the Federation, was not an employee in the Public Service. Therefore, Article 2 of the guidelines does not apply to him.”

    In his appeal before the Supreme Court, Oni is contending that the appeal court erred in its verdict.

    He noted that “the main task in this appeal is the application of mischief rule of interpretation in resolving the proprietary of a public officer like a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria or any other public officer contesting a party primary or general election while still retaining his public office and thereby using all the advantages of that office to advance a political course to the disadvantage of every other co-contestant, who is not a public officer”.

    The brief added: “The appellant, who was the claimant at the trial court and the appellant in this appeal at the lower court contested alongside 31 others, including the first respondent (Fayemi), the governorship primary election of the second respondent’s party (APC). The said primary election to nominate the candidate of the second respondent was held on May 12, 2018, for the Ekiti State gubernatorial election, which was subsequently held on the July 14, 2018.

    “The said primary election was conducted in compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2010 as amended and was expected to be conducted strictly in line and in accordance with the second respondent’s Constitution.”

  • APC chieftain sues Odigie-Oyegun over tenure extension

    APC chieftain sues Odigie-Oyegun over tenure extension

    …‘Ruling party must not circumvent its rules’

     

    An aggrieved All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, Dr. Wale Ahmed, has taken the national chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, to court over what he described as an illegal extension of his tenure.

    Ahmed, a party stalwart from Lagos, said the ruling party has violated its rules and guiding principle on periodic national convention as stipulated by its constitution.

    The embattled chairman, Odigie-Oyegun, was elected chairman in June 2014 for a four year tenure, which had expires in June.

    The plaintiff said the chairman and other members of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party were given illegal anticipatory tenure elongation to enable them put the national convention in abeyance, without due consideration for the APC constitution and 1999 Constitution.

    According to the Section 223 (1a) and (2a), of the 1999 Constitution, “the constitution and rules of a political party shall provide for the periodic election on a democratic basis of the principal officer and members of the executive committee or other governing body of the political party.”

    Also, “the election of the officers or members of the executive committee of a political party shall be deemed to be periodical only if it is made at regular intervals not exceeding four years.”

    According to the APC Constitution (2014 as amended), “all officers of the party elected or appointed into the party’s organs shall serve in such organs for a period of four years and shall be eligible for re-election or re-appointment for another period of four years only, provided that an officer elected or appointed to fill a vacancy arising from death, resignation or otherwise shall notwithstanding be eligible for election to the same office for two terms.”

    Joined in the suit No. FHC/L/CS/364/18 before the Federal High Court, Lagos Division, are the Deputy National Chairman (South), Chief Segun Oni, Deputy National Chairman (North), Senator Lawal Shuaibu, National Secretary Mallam Ibrahim Gubi, National Vice Chairman (Southwest) Chief Pius Akinyelure, the APC and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    Ahmed is praying the court to declare as null and void and of now effect the purported elongation of the tenure of the NEC, contrary to the extant laws.

    In the originating summons taken by his counsel, B.A.M Fashanu (SAN), the plaintiff is claiming that the defendants, jointly or severally, have erred in law. His prayers include:

    “A declaration that the first to sixth defendants have no power under the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,  1999, to extend the tenure of the elected organs/officers beyond four years from their election /inauguration

    “A declaration that the purported extension of the tenure of the extant National Working Committee (NWC) and /or other executive committees or their members of the All Progressives Congress at various levels for another 12 months from June 30, 2018 by the National Executive Committee of or by the All Progressives Congress, is illegal, null and void and of no effect

    “A declaration that any provision of the sixth defendant’s constitution or any memorandum, circular or pronouncement of the first to sixth defendants purporting to extend the tenure of the first to fifth defendants beyond their extant elected or inaugurated four year tenure is in conflict or is inconsistent with the provision of Section 223(1) (a) and  223 (2) (a) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 and is null and void to the extent of its inconsistency.

    “An injunction restraining the first to sixth defendants, their servants and/or agents, from taking any steps to implement the purported tenure elongation of the presently elected/constituted organs/officers of the All Progressives Congress, which pronouncement or decision was made on or about the 27th of February, 2018, or in any manner howsoever, stay in office beyond four years from the date of their election/inauguration.

    “An injunction restraining the seventh defendant, its servants and /or agents, from recognising the decision or any decision of the first to sixth defendants to extend the tenure of the sixth defendant’s extant elected organs/officers beyond their elected/constituted four years, or, taking any step, in any manner howsoever, to implement such decision.”

    Ahmed, a former member of House of Assembly and one-time Commissioner for Special Duties said he went to court to protect the image of the ruling party and the sanctity of the constitution.

    He said the APC should, through its convention, create a level playing field for all qualified members of the party who may wish to contest for any party office at the convention when the tenure of the executive committee expires in June.

    Ahmed added: “We must avoid a situation whereby a dangerous precedent will be laid by the deliberate violation of party constitution, rules and regulations on leadership recruitment and renewal of tenure. Our party is known for its avowed commitment to the rule of law, the due process and the constitution. We must obey our own laws and respect the constitution of the country.”

    Crisis had hit the APC, following the purported tenure elongation for the NEC and the NWC, following their Abuja meeting of January 26 and 27.

    While Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello told reporters that the NEC had granted one year tenure elongation to the Odigie-Oyegun-led NWC, his Zamfara State counterpart and Chairman of the APC Governors’ Forum, Abdulaziz Yari, said the NEC lacked the power to extend the tenure, adding that the power of the Convention to extend the tenure can only be exercised only by way of constitutional amendment.

    He stressed: “The power of the NEC of our party cannot go beyond doing so by way of constitution amendment. Article 30 of the APC Constitution and the schedules hereto, can be amended only by the National Convention of the party.

    “The process of amending the constitution is also expressly provided in Article 30 Sub-Section 2. This states: “Notice of any proposed amendment by any member or organ of the party shall be given to the National Secretary, at least, 14 days before the date of the National Convention. The Notice shall be in writing, shall contain a clear statement of the proposed amendment and reasons for the amendment.”

    Read Also: Odigie-Oyegun: APC NWC tenure extension in good fate

  • Fayose’s policies making Ekiti poorer, says Oni

    Fayose’s policies making Ekiti poorer, says Oni

    Former Ekiti State Governor and All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant, Chief Segun Oni, has promised to raise millionaires among the youths through economic empowerment schemes.

    Oni, who is also the APC Deputy National Chairman (South), faulted the “stomach infrastructure” policy of Governor Ayo Fayose which, he said.

    He disclosed that his campaign organisation with support from some corporate organisations will soon send some Ekiti youths to Brazil for intensive training in academics and entrepreneurship under The Youths Progressives (TYP) initiative.

    Oni who disclosed this at a news conference in his hometown, Ifaki-Ekiti in Ido/Osi Local Government Area where he unfolded a New Social and Economic Order blueprint he hopes to implement if he wins his party’s primary and the July 14, 2018 governorship election.

    He explained that his administration would engage between 10,000 and 20,000 youths in buying, selling and marketing of goods and services to make a minimum of N1 million profit per year.

    Oni said his government will empower the youths to invest in plantation agriculture, rice growing, animal rearing, fishery, poultry, information technology, hospitality and tourism, auto engineering, among others.

    When asked how he would break the cycle of stomach infrastructure and queuing in the sun to collect food and money from politicians, Oni said such a scenario does not dignify Ekiti people and he will end it on assumption of power.

    Oni said: “Who likes to beg? Nobody. If there is an alternative, nobody likes to beg. We are going to create alternatives that will be attractive to people.

    “If you know that within a year, you can make a million, you will prefer not to stand on the road and raising your hands to say “baba ke.” Because you know that one month, second month, you will be counting and seeing it grow”.

     

  • Easter symbolic for Nigerians, says Oni

    Easter symbolic for Nigerians, says Oni

    The deputy national chairman (South) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Segun Oni, has described this year’s Easter as a special one that Nigerians should celebrate exceptionally and reflectively.

    He said Nigerians must be grateful to God for His love and goodness towards the nation.

    Oni said: “It is not by accident or coincidence but divine that Nigerians are celebrating this significant season of the crucifixion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, while still basking in the euphoria of the long desired change in the polity with the successful conduct of the presidential election.

    While wishing Nigerians peaceful Easter celebration, he prayed that the new dawn in the nation’s political firmament would bring forth joy and a life of true freedom and abundance for all in the years ahead.

  • Impunity invitation to anarchy, says Oni

    Impunity invitation to anarchy, says Oni

    The Deputy National Chairman (South) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Segun Oni, has expressed worry about the increasing impunity being experienced by Nigerians under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led administration.

    He said the willful subversion of the constitution, the rule of law, attacks on sacred legislative and judicial institutions and infringements on the rights of Nigerians could trigger a revolution similar to the ones witnessed in North Africa a few years ago.

    Speaking with reporters at his Ifaki-Ekiti country home last Friday, Oni, who noted that “power by conquest” would not work, said the disturbing trends in the polity were not witnessed during the military era.

    His words: “I wonder why democracy is being assaulted by a supposedly civilian government.”

    The former Ekiti State governor accused the Federal Government of double standard in attempting to remove the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, for defecting to the APC.

    Oni said the same President Goodluck Jonathan administration never saw anything wrong in the defection of Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko, Speaker of the House of Assembly Jumoke Akindele, federal and state lawmakers from the state, whose seats were not declared vacant for moving to the PDP from the Labour Party (LP).

    He lambasted the police, whom he accused of colluding with the executive to undermine the judiciary and the legislature, warning the police to remember that they were maintained and funded through tax payers’ money and should not “run errands for a temporary office holder.”

    The APC chief said Nigerians were tired of the PDP-led Federal Government, adding that its administration was bereft of ideas on providing solution to the socio-economic problems afflicting the country, but was interested in holding on to power by all means.

    He described last Thursday’s “impeachment” of Speaker Adewale Omirin by seven PDP legislators as a “huge joke”, which he declared was encouraged by the impunity at the national level.

    Oni advised Governor Ayo Fayose to desist from supporting illegality and impunity, urging him to remember that it was the same constitution that created the executive, which also created the legislature.