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Tag: Confusion

  • Confusion in PDP over convention

    Confusion in PDP over convention

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) risks an explosion as gladiators prepare for the national chairmanship election next month in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The position has been zoned to the South. There is no aspirant from the Southeast. But, aspirants from the Southwest and the Southsouth are quarrelling over zoning and micro-zoning. Group Political Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU reports.

    The struggle for ‘party power’ is tearing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) apart. Ahead of next month’s national convention in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the chairmanship aspirants have polarised the platform. The bone of contention is zoning and micro-zoning of the top position.

    The aspirants are former Deputy National Chairman Chief Olabode George, former Education Minister Prof. Tunde Adeniran, former Ogun State Governor Gbenga Daniel, his Oyo State counterpart, Senator Rasheed Ladoja, former Lagos State PDP governorship candidate Jimi Agbaje, former Sports and Special Duties Minister Prof. Taoheed Adedoja, Chief Raymond Dokpesi and former Acting Chairman Chief Uche Secondus.

    George, Adeniran, Daniel, Agbaje, Ladoja, and Adedoja are from the Southwest. Dokpesi and Secondus are from the Southsouth. There is consensus in the Southwest that the slot should be zoned to the region. But, there is no agreement on a consensus candidate. The exclusive endorsement of some aspirants by some Board of Trustees (BoT) members from the zone, led by Chief Shuaib Oyedokun, was resisted by other chieftains. The PDP National Vice Chairman (Southwest), Dr. Eddy Olafeso, dissociated his zonal leadership from the endorsement. He said the endorsement, which shut out other contenders, was personal, stressing that it lacked collective blessing.

    Olafeso added: “We detest this act of impunity and will not support any action that will infringe on the fundamental rights of any party man to aspire to the highest position in the party. All those gentlemen from the Southwest that wish to contest for the position of national chairman of the party are at liberty to continue to pursue their ambition without encumbrance and hindrance.”

    The Southwest has insisted that it should be the major beneficiary of zoning to the South. But, the BoT chairman, Senator Walid Jibril, has clarified that the slot is not zoned to the Southwest, but to the entire South. He objected to the selective endorsement championed by Oyedokun and urged other BoT member to exercise restraint.

    The aspirants are traversing the six zones to drum support for their aspirations. The most powerful bloc in the PDP is the PDP Governors’ Forum. The forum many not be backing any candidate from the Southwest, according to a source. The source said the governors may have settled for an aspirant outside the zone for strategic reasons. Although the contenders have been scrambling for the endorsement of the forum, there was disquiet in the fold, until they finally agreed to back a particular candidate.

    “The governors could not make up their minds in time. They were previously enthusiastic about the entry of former Cross River State Governor Liyel Imoke into the race. But, he backed out for personal reasons. It appears that their best bet is Secondus, whom they are already familiar with,” added the source. Secondus is from Rivers State and Governor Nyesom Wike is favourably disposed to his candidature. Southsouth chieftains are of the opinion that the zone should occupy the position because they are major financier of the party.

    The implication is that the governors may have objected to the idea of micro-zoning, following the National Caretaker Committee Chairman Ahmed Makarfi’s clarification that the national leadership only recognised the South as a zone, thereby rejecting zoning to the Southwest.

    Many PDP leaders favour zoning to the Southwest, based on equity, fairness and justice. Former National Chairman Senator Ahmadu Ali had pointed out that since 1999, no politician from the Southwest has served as national chairman.

    The lone PDP governor in the Southwest, Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State, had advised octogenarian George and Adeniran to quit the race, saying that that the mood in the party favoured generational shift. A source said the vocal governor may be peeping at 2019. Fayose has already for the Presidency, although the slot has been zoned to the North. The Southsouth is targeting the vice presidency. However, if the Southwest fails to produce the national chairman at the convention, Fayose’s chance of emerging as the running mate to the presidential candidate may be bright.

    However, Southeast governors and other prominent leaders, who are nursing the agenda of presenting the vice presidential candidate for the 2019 poll, are torn between Daniel and George, although George has been reaching out to the founding fathers of the party from the zone.

    The two northern governors-Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe State and Darius Ishaku of Taraba State, and prominent northern leaders were said to be rooting for George, whom they had worked with in the party secretariat. Fayose and Wike of Rivers State have counselled that that they should favour a younger chieftain for the job.

    However, it is not certain that the duo still have Agbaje as “Plan B,” contrary to the support they gave to him during the botched Port-Harcourt convention.

    Party sources said founding fathers are split over the chairmanship. While a section is supporting George, a section is rooting for Adeniran. However, the founding fathers who have been sidelined in the future know their limitations. They may not be able to exert any influence at the convention. Many of them are too old and have lost their mobilisation prowess.

    Anxiety is brewing, ahead of the national congress. It appears the governors hold the ace. They call the shots.

    The governors will not be indifferent to the tendency of the next chairman. But, many gladiators may also seize the initiative and galvanise delegates from states controlled by the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The convention is critical to the future of the PDP. It may be a make or mar congress. The party has not recovered from the Port-Harcourt experience when a carnival-like convention became a disaster.

    A party source said: “If crisis erupts at the convention in Abuja, the PDP may have to brace up for the 2007 experience when Egwu and Ayim polarised the party and former Internal Affairs Minister Prince Vincent Ogbulafor became the dark horse.”

     

  • Confusion as petrol tankers catch fire in Ondo

    Confusion as petrol tankers catch fire in Ondo

    There was confusion in the hilly town of Oka-Akoko, headquarters of Akoko Southwest of Ondo State, yesterday, when four petroleum tankers bursted into flames while ascending the elevated terrain of Oke-Oka road. Residents and other road users took to their heels as they struggled to escape the ensuing fire.

    As at the press time,the inferno was yet to subside while motorists have abandoned the route which links the Owo-Iwaro-Isua-Akoko-Lokoja- Abuja road. According to the Olubaka of Oka-Akoko, Oba Adebori Adeyeye, the present situation has ruined the economy of his people and is having adverse effect on their lives.

    However, the monarch appreciated Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu for his concern following the prompt delegation he sent to assess the road. Already, officials of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) soldiers, and men of the NigerianPolice Force are at the scene of the incident to put the situation under control.

  • Confusion as witness dies in court

    Confusion as witness dies in court

    A WITNESS in a land case yesterday slumped and died at an Ikeja High Court, throwing the whole place into confusion.

    He was to testify before Justice O.A. Olayinka.

    It was learnt that before the case was called, the late witness started coughing and gasping for breath. He was said to have stood up to leave the courtroom to take care of himself. He slumped along the corridor and died. He name could not be ascertained.

    An eye witness said: “He was vomiting a lot of blood and onlookers were scared to go near him.

    “He collapsed and died on the corridors of the courtroom before a medical team came in an ambulance to take the body away.

    “His lawyer informed Justice Olayinka of his client’s death and she immediately stopped proceedings for the day.”

    There were clots of blood along the corridor as well as the deceased’s blood-stained shirt and leather slippers.

    The Chief Registrar, who could comment on the matter, was in a meeting with the Chief Judge and Chief Security Officer of the court, when The Nation sought his reaction.

     

  • Centres of confusion

    Centres of confusion

    •JAMB continues to cause avoidable problems for candidates 

    In spite of its protestations to the contrary, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) once again finds itself caught up in yet another logistics mess. Many candidates who will be sitting for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME)) have discovered to their dismay that they will not be doing it in their preferred locations.

    Candidates who are resident in Lagos have been directed to examination centres in towns located in Oyo, Ondo and Ekiti states, even though they had originally expressed a preference for Lagos. They must now face the challenges of transportation to their designated examination towns, finding suitable lodgings, and arranging movement to and from the examination centres.

    Candidates’ placement problems have plagued JAMB since it introduced Computer-Based Tests (CBT) fully in 2015. The main cause is that, unlike the Paper-Pencil Test (PPT), not every examination centre is equipped for the CBT, especially in meeting the critical requirements of reliable power supply, functional computers and broadband internet connectivity.

    Ironically, the board had argued that the CBT would provide greater flexibility with regard to examination location and timing because the rapidity with which tests could be conducted would make it much easier to hold several of them in quick succession.

    It is clear that JAMB has not been able to deal with the problems associated with its introduction of a CBT-only examinations. In addition to the issues surrounding examination centre placement, there have been difficulties at almost every stage of the registration process. The purchase of e-PINS is a harrowing experience; online registration procedures are plagued with delays and other inefficiencies; the examination itself is very likely to be riddled with scheduling breakdowns, poor internet connectivity and unreliable computer systems, as had been the case in 2015 and 2016.

    While some of these problems stem from the infrastructural inadequacies that bedevil the country, quite a few of them can be traced to JAMB itself. The introduction of the CBT was clearly rushed; the board simply did not prepare for the logistical overhaul that the shift to CBT required to succeed.

    There are simply not enough functional CBT centres for the 1.5 million candidates who will sit for UTME. Most centres are domiciled within tertiary institutions and high-brow private secondary schools, with the exception of a state like Lagos, which also has computer schools.

    To compound matters, the new executive secretary of the board, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, has been introducing a raft of reforms within a short time without considering their consequences in the immediate short-term.

    The change from scratch cards to e-PINS certainly has its good sides but it made the registration process more difficult than it was supposed to be. The introduction of a mock UTME examination may have been well intended, but only served to show up many of the difficulties that are likely to manifest in the real examination itself.

    As the number of candidates continues to increase, there can be little doubt that these problems will worsen. The best way to resolve them would be for JAMB to spread the examinations over more than one day. There is no reason why everything should be done on a single day, a practice which only concentrates pressure in such a way as to create huge difficulties for all stakeholders.

    Indeed, the CBT process makes it much easier to do this, because it dispenses with traditional examination materials, cumbersome identification procedures, and intensive invigilation. Candidates would be able to get examination towns close to them, and thereby avoid the additional expense and risks involved in inter-state travels. CBT centres would be better able to handle candidates, as their equipment would not be over-utilised, as is currently the case.

    Ultimately, however, JAMB will have to allow universities to conduct their own examinations. One examination body simply cannot do the work of over 150 universities efficiently. That is the takeaway from the hiccups bedevilling JAMB examinations over the years.

     

  • Fresh confusion over Anambra Central Senatorial election

    Fresh confusion over Anambra Central Senatorial election

    Following recent court rulings on Anambra Central Senatorial Election, the confusion over parties’ candidates seem to have deepened, reports Associate Editor, Sam Egburonu 

    The confusion surrounding the seemingly illusive Anambra Central Senatorial Election has increased since 14th March, 2017, when an Abuja High Court ruled that the time for nomination, withdrawal or substitution of candidates for court ordered election in the district has elapsed and that the concerned political parties can no longer substitute any of their candidates.

    As soon as the verdict was made, there were reports that it means both All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the strongest opposition political parties in the state, cannot field candidates in the election. Accusing the ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) of deliberately sponsoring such media interpretation to deepen the confusion and discourage opposition, some Anambra stakeholders, especially APC henchmen, said there is nothing in the judgment that suggested the party does not have candidate for the election.

    But APGA organs had insisted PDP and APC are out of the contest, following the Abuja High Court’s ruling. For example, in a press statement made available to The Nation during the week, APGA Women for Good Governance (APGAWGG) said the court ruling has cleared all the hurdles for INEC to conduct the election and for APGA to win the seat.

    Explaining its stand on the confusion and its understanding of how the matter deteriorated to its present situation, the group’s National Coordinator, Mrs. Grace Chike, said in a release made available to The Nation during the week that: “It is INEC’s task, function or role to clear all hurdles impeding the smooth conduct of elections in the country and fix appropriate dates. No political party or candidate can influence that or speak for the Commission which is independent as its name denotes, adding: “The good people of Anambra Central Senatorial District desire and deserve effective representation in the Senate. Patriotism demands that the rerun should be conducted immediately.

    “APGA Women for Good Governance (APGAGG) will continue to campaign for sustainable democracy and good governance in Nigeria.”

    APGA Integrity Group also called on INEC to conduct the rerun as soon as possible, saying the Court has, by its recent ruling cleared all the hurdles that had hindered the conduct of the election. The Publicity Secretary of the group, Mr. Great Martin Kalu, said, “It has become necessary to conduct the Court ordered Anambra Central Senatorial rerun two years after the March 28, 2015 National Assembly elections.

    We call on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to take urgent steps to ensure that the rerun is conducted. The Supreme Court has cleared the hurdles in its landmark judgements that will guide the Commission in discharging its constitutional duties.”

    The group also argued that “to abandon the people of Anambra Central Senatorial zone to their fate is justice juxtaposed and a big step backward in quest for democratic ethos, ethics and ideals.”

    The confusion

    Since Justice Anwuli Chikere gave the judgment, declaring that the candidates that contested the original election can no longer be substituted, APGA and her supporters have rolled out the drums, announcing that PDP and APC had been barred from presenting candidates for the rerun.

    Reacting to this, Sharon Ikeazor, who had approached the court to be declared the substituted candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Anambra Central Senatorial Election, said in a statement made available to The Nation that “The import of the judgment is that the APC can still be part of the election, but the candidate MUST be Chris Ngige, who, by the Grace of God, also has the capacity to win this seat for the APC. This is contrary to the celebration of opponents of the party in the media, that the court has barred the APC from fielding a candidate for the election. The correct interpretation of her judgment is that only Senator Ngige, our duly nominated candidate, can fly the flag of our great party in the election,” Barrister Ikeazor said.

    She added that: “The moral burden is now on Senator Ngige, as a leader of the party, to rescue the APC from a psychological defeat, which we do not need as we go into the governorship election later in the year.

    “In football, when an opponent refuses or fails to show up, the referee declares a walk over; my appeal is that Senator Ngige graciously spares the APC the agony of being walked over. This will be a great sacrifice to the party at this crucial moment of need.

    “At this point, I must thank my supporters, members of the APC, especially the leadership for the confidence reposed in me to fly the party flag. I gave it my all but unfortunately the court has ruled that I can’t be a candidate in that election.

    In the greater interest of the good people of Anambra and the party, I consulted widely and also as a lawyer with over 30years experience, I will not challenge the decision. As any further appeal will continue to short-change our people, who deserve to be heard on the floor of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The district has been without a representative since 2015, when the court disqualified our sister, Uche Ekwunife, on the grounds of invalid nomination.

    “I call on the National Chairman, Chief John Oyegun, NWC, the leaders and elders of the party and indeed all members of our great party to encourage and support Senator Ngige to clinch this crucial Senatorial seat in Anambra for APC,” she said.

    Following this development, observers have expressed concern following claims by some stakeholders that Ngige, a former governor and former senator, who is now a serving minister, may not want to leave the position to vie for the senatorial election because of the uncertainty associated with an election.

    Although the actual disposition of the senator towards the current development is yet to be ascertained, a source close to him said the minister’s fear may not be unconnected with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution which requires a public servant to resign his position before contesting an election. Section 66, sub-section 1 of the constitution says “No person shall be qualified for election to the Senate or the House of Representatives if:  (f) he is a person employed in the public service of the Federation or of any State and has not resigned, withdrawn or retired from such employment 30 days before the date of election.”

    Given this provision, the source said the Minister of Labour may not be allowed by INEC to fly APC ticket, except he resigns first and that it is doubtful if the minister will like to resign from his current job to contest the election.

    But unlike the position of most of his party men, Chief Victor Umeh, the APGA candidate for the senatorial election, had said in an interview he granted a national daily in February that Ngige is free to contest in the election. He said: “Since Senator Chris Ngige, the APC candidate, is now a minister, can the APC bring another candidate to replace him? The answer is still no because the time for withdrawal and substitution has elapsed and Ngige is still alive,” he said, adding, “So, Senator Chris Ngige is qualified to run. If he wants to run, he has to join the race and resign within 30 days to the election date. That is what the law says.”

    Reacting to the claims made by some organs of APGA in Anambra State that APC has been barred to present a candidate in the senatorial election, Okelo Madukaife, the APC Publicity Secretary in Anambra State told The Nation on Friday that such a claim is both “premature and preposterous. It also conveys the level of immaturity of the people making it.” He said there is nothing in the court rulings so far to suggest that APC has no candidate or that APC has been barred from Anambra Central Senatorial Election.

    According to him, “We have a candidate, because, as you and the court admitted, APC has a candidate in the election. So, our position today is that whenever all the issues entangling the senatorial election are disentangled and a date is fixed for the election, APC will not only field its candidate but will also win the election. We are favourably disposed to the resolution of all the issues, particularly along the rule of law and we are confident that when all the issues are resolved and the election date is fixed, APC will field its candidate and will win the election,” he said.

    INEC’s hesitation

    Besides the issue of parties’ candidates, another source of confusion is INEC’s delay in fixing a date for the rerun election.

    It would be recalled that since March 28, 2015 National Assembly elections, various National Assembly Election Petition Tribunals and Court of Appeal Tribunals nullified about 80 elections and ordered fresh or rerun polls. Most of these rerun elections had held but Anambra Central’s re-run has remained an illusion.

    Madam Chike, blaming it on INEC’s hesitation, said, “It will be in the interest of justice, equity and good conscience for INEC to fix a date to conduct the Anambra Central Senatorial rerun.

    “We urge the Commission to withdraw its matter in court as the Supreme Court has decided the PDP fate, while Mega Progressive Peoples Party (MPPP) and United Progressive Party (UPP) did not file any suit against the conduct of the election. Their candidates are eligible to participate in the rerun.”

    We gathered at the weekend that the last may not have been heard about the Anambra Central Senatorial Election intrigues as more stakeholders from both PDP and APC are still approaching the courts to straighten more grey areas. While such individual moves are being made, we learnt that the concerned parties are meeting behind the scene to resolve outstanding issues.

  • Confusion as court stops Oyo council polls

    Confusion as court stops Oyo council polls

    There was confusion among parties in Oyo State at the weekend, following a court ruling restraining the State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC) from conducting the February 11 local government election.

    Though details were sketchy, it was gathered that a federal high court in Abuja on Friday granted the prayer of a team of baales (village heads), who sued the commission.

    The electoral umpire had slated election into the 33 local governments and 35 Local Council Development Area (LCDAs) for February 11.

    But some baales in Oyo West, Atiba and Oyo East local governments sought an order restraining the commission from conducting the planned election pending the determination of the case.

    It was learnt that they are angry that delineation of the LCDAs ceded away part of their domains.

    was learnt that parts of their domains were ceded to Afijio.

    A source said the baales simply wanted the issue resolved before any election holds in the LCDAs.

    The order, it was learnt, was granted towards closing hour on Friday, making it difficult for the information to be officially circulated.

    The development has caused commotion among major parties and their candidates, who were finalising preparations for the election.

    Accord Party, Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) revealed that their candidates have emerged; the All Progressives Congress (APC) slated its  primary for tomorrow.

    The council poll is coming 10 years after the last exercise was conducted during the tenure of former Governor Rashidi Ladoja in 2007.

    Reacting yesterday, SDP State Publicity Secretary Akeem Azeez said: “It is quite unfortunate that an opportunity to expose rejection of the APC-led government in the state has been postponed.

    “Without doubt, APC-appointed OYSIEC has shown enough reasons to doubt its capacity and sincerity to conduct credible local government election in Oyo State.”

    APC spokesman Wale Sadare was not available for comments.

    His OYSIEC counterpart, Cosmas Nnadi, was also not available for comments.

  • Confusion, despondency cloud Ondo governorship race

    Confusion, despondency cloud Ondo governorship race

    The November 26 governorship election in Ondo State has been generating interest across the country. From the beginning, the All Progressives Congress (APC) got it wrong during its primary. At the last minute, the situation in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) worsened with the substitution of Mr. Eyitayo Jegede’s name with that of Mr Jimoh Ibrahim as the flag bearer. Correspondent DAMISI OJO looks at the chances of the candidates and how the crisis in the two major parties may tilt the pendulum in favour of the flag bearer of the Alliance of Democracy (AD), Chief Olusola Oke.

    WITH less than three weeks to the Ondo State governorship election, the gladiators are in a fierce battle for the Alagbaka Government House. For the first time, the people are witnessing serious campaigns by the political parties. The candidates have introduced house-to-house campaigns, radio-television jingles, fliers, imposing posters and billboards.

    Even in taxi cabs and commercial buses, contestants are using their foot soldiers to convince the electorate on the need to vote for them to make a difference.

    Twenty-eight parties are in the race for the November 26 poll. But, only four are considered serious contenders. They are: Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN) of the All Progressives Congress (APC); Olusola Oke of the Alliance for Democracy (AD); Jimoh Ibrahim of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP); and Olu Agunloye of the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

    Those considered as fringe candidates are: Mrs Oluyi Folasade Helen (the African Peoples Alliance (APA); Gbenga Arigbede (the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP); Stephen Adeuti (the Labour Party (LP); Oyeleye Fasua (the Citizen Popular Party (CPP); Mrs Olagbegi Orunmoluyi (the Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN); and Mrs Falana Julianah (the Democratic People Party (DPP).

    Others include: Adeeyo Matthew (the Democratic Peoples Congress (DPC); Oluwadare Bada (the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP); Odedeyi John (the Hope Democratic Party (HDP); Ayibiowu Ige (the National Unity Party (NUP); Mrs Funmilayo Jenyo (the Better Nigeria Progressive Party (BNPP); and Adeniran Adeniyi (the Young Democratic Party (YDP).

    The political temperature in Ondo State is getting to a feverish level, following the crisis rocking the two major parties. The intra-party crisis is a fall-out of their shadow polls.

    The crisis within the PDP is the deepest. Few days ago, it was the former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Eyitayo Jegede (SAN) that was recognized by INEC as the authentic candidate of the party. But, with the recent Abuja Federal High Court judgment that insisted that Ibrahim is the party’s authentic candidate, INEC had to substitute Jegede’s name with that of Ibrahim.

    Jegede, an indigene of Akure, has the full backing of Mimiko who in spite of criticisms preferred Jegede to any other aspirant in the Markafi’s camp of the PDP. The duo is from the same Ondo Central District that has dominated the seat for almost eight years. The insistence of Mimiko had truncated the zoning arrangement that had been in place since the return to civil rule in 1999. The ‘Akure Agenda’, which threw up Jegede as the candidate of the Mimiko-led faction, is backed by the Akure traditional ruler, Oba Ogunlade Aladetoyinbo.

    Before his name was removed from the list of candidates, Jegede had embarked on a sophisticated and decentralised campaign, especially in the central district. His branded campaign vehicles were all over the state, putting up banners and posters distributing stickers and other souvenirs generously to prospective voters.

    Ironically, it was the same day the Akure High Court presided over by Justice Rotimi Olamide directed that Jegede’s name should not be replaced that Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court in Abuja ruled that INEC should substitute Jegede’s name with that of the business magnate, Ibrahim.

    There was initial jubilation in Akure over the Akure court judgment, as many of Jegede’s supporters defied the rain and trooped out to celebrate. But, it was short-lived, following counter directive from Abuja that Ibrahim is the authentic candidate.

    With the announcement, a pandemonium was let loose in Akure, the Ondo State capital. Protests broke out in the capital as early as 7.00 am the following morning. It was masterminded by members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers’ Union (NURTW); they burned tyres on major highways and disrupted the peace of the city.

    With the current state of affairs, who will carry the day? Is it Akeredolu, Ibrahim, Oke or Agunloye?

     

    Akeredolu

     

    The former Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) President was also the governorship candidate of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in 2012. Thus, his political structure is still intact. Some of his supporters have however left the APC, following the crisis that rocked the party after the primary.

    The economic crunch in the country, which has inflicted a bad image on the APC as a party, may affect his chances; as many people are of the opinion that President Muhammadu Buhari has not done enough to alleviate the suffering of the masses who voted overwhelmingly for him last year.

    Akeredolu may not do well in Ondo Central, although some bigwigs are backing him in the zone. They include: the senator representing the district, Chief Tayo Alasoadura; former lawmaker, Ifedayo Abegunde (Abena); and the immediate past senator representing the district, Dr Ayo Akinyelure.

    The APC flag bearer is the candidate to beat in Owo because he hails from the town. In Owo/Ose federal constituency, he would sweep the polls. The two other federal constituencies are in Akokoland. They are: Akoko Northeast/Akoko Northwest and Akoko Southeast/Southwest. The Akokos, who are in majority in the North District, have long been clamouring for one of their sons or daughters to emerge as the governor.

    Unfortunately, notable politicians from the area are not happy over the emergence of Akeredolu as the flag bearer and therefore, they may not back him in the November 26 contest. Otherwise, the whole Ondo North would have been a smooth sail for the APC. Two of the aggrieved APC governorship aspirants are from the area. They are: Segun Abraham, who was the first runner-up in the primary, and Senator Ajayi Boroffice who came fourth.

    While Akeredolu may garner more votes in Owo/Ose axis, the support for him in Akoko is not certain, due to the fact that the AD’s flag bearer, Olusola Oke picked his running mate from the area. The fact that Agunloye, the SDP candidate, is an indigene of Erusu-Akoko will elicit the sympathy of many of his kinsmen and women.

    The supporters of Abraham may gravitate towards AD during the election. It is believed that many supporters of Boroffice are also with Oke.

    Ondo South has six local government areas: Ile-Oluji/Oke-igbo, Odigbo, Irele, Okitipupa, Ilaje and Ese-Odo. In past elections, the votes from the area have always been in favour of the PDP. For instance, the only senator in the Red Chamber on the platform of the PDP, Senator Yele Omogunwa, is from the district, while all the House of Representatives members from the district are also on the PDP platform. So, the Akeredolu Campaign Organisation has more work to do in the zone.

    Oke, who is from the riverine Ilaje community of Ilowo, is widely expected to clear the votes in Ondo South District.

    Nevertheless, the fact that Akeredolu’s running mate, Agboola Ajayi, is from the area will be a boost for the APC flag bearer. Ajayi is a former member of the House of Representatives and he is not a push-over in the politics of the area. Akeredolu also enjoys the support of the late Agagu’s brother, Femi Agagu and other APC bigwigs in the area, including Princess Oladunni Odu, Ajose Kudehinbu, Olu Bajowa and lucky Aiyedatiwa.

    Observers believe the acrimony in the APC may affect the fortune of its candidate, but reconciliation and mass mobilisation of voters are on-going. The defection of Oke with his supporters may have an adverse effect on the APC.

     

    Ibrahim

     

    The fate of the PDP still hangs in the balance because of the intractable crisis rocking the party over the choice of its flag bearer. If the appeal filed by Jegede is not determined before November 26 or if it goes against the Mimiko-led faction, chances are that PDP supporters may resolve to back another candidate and scuttle the ambition of Ibrahim to govern the state.

    Ondo Central has the largest number of registered voters in the state and Akure metropolis has a large chunk on the list. Indications are that, with the emergence of the business mogul as the PDP candidate, the zone may vote against the PDP candidate. Going by the latest slogan ‘no Jegede, no vote in Akure’, indigenes of the capital city may stand aloof and allow non-indigenes to vote for candidates of their choice. Thus, it might be harvest of votes for the APC and the AD candidates.

    Besides, Ibrahim has no political structure. If the PDP is compelled to field the business magnet, there is the possibility of protest votes against the candidate of the Sheriff’s camp of the party in Ondo.

    Irrespective of who is contesting the election, Ibrahim or Jegede, the APC may have an upper hand in Ondo North District, because its candidate hails from the zone. The district has always been a no-go area for the PDP and other parties. Its residents are purely progressives. This is based on the legacies of the likes of the late Pa Adekunle Ajasin and Adebayo Adefarati, also of blessed memory. They imbibed the spirit of progressivism and impacted it on their people in the up north.

    However, the influence of the Deputy Governor Lasisi Oluboyo, Saka Lawal, Bamiduro Dada, Fatai Adams and others will boost the overall result of the PDP candidate in the area.

    Ibrahim may garner some reasonable votes from Ondo South District, where he hails from. The businessman is from Igbotako, Okitipupa Local Government Area and his people will vote for him, though he has no political structure in the zone.

    Some key PDP stalwarts in the area will back him to ensure that their son wins the poll. People in the South District, particularly from Ilaje axis, are not happy with the Mimiko administration. They say their area is marginalised, despite the fact that it is “the hen that lays the golden eggs”.

     

    Oke

     

    Oke is a successful legal practitioner and a former governorship aspirant on the APC platform. But, he dumped the party after the emergence of Akeredolu as its candidate. Oke petitioned the primary election appeal which recommended a fresh primary for the contestants, because of undeniable irregularities. The National Working Committee (NWC) was to effect the conduct of the re-run primary, but the APC National Chairman Chief John Odigie-Oyegun overruled it and this prompted the former National Legal Adviser of the PDP to leave the party and join AD, where was promptly offered the party’s governorship ticket.

    Oke was also the governorship candidate of the PDP in the 2012 poll; contesting against Mimiko who ran on the platform of Labour Party (LP) then and Akeredolu of the defunct ACN.

    The Ilowo-born politician has been described as a grassroots man and has been harvesting many supporters from the APC and PDP, because of their disputed primaries.

    His strength in the Ondo Central District rests solely on the fact that the leader of the party in Ondo State, Dr. Olowookere, is an indigene of Akure. He has the structure to boost Oke’s chances in the six local government areas in the district.

    Besides, Oke is banking on some prominent politicians that were formerly in the APC, but moved with him to the AD. Many of them are still operating secretly, using their resources to ensure that the AD flag bearer gets good votes from the largest senatorial district where the bulk of the votes will come from.

    Among those from the Ondo Central working for Oke are the Director-General of his campaign organisation and former Special Adviser to Osun State governor, Mr. Bola Ilori; the former Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to Governor Mimiko), now a lawyer, Mr. Kolawole Olabisi, who is the chairman, Media and Publicity Committee for the AD; and the former Commissioner for Transport, Otunba Omoniyi Omodara.

    One of the strategies that may work for Oke in Ondo North is the fact that his running mate, Ganny Dauda, is from the zone. The people of Akoko, who constitute the majority in the district, are aggrieved and since the two strongest political parties have not favoured them in the choice of the governorship flag bearers, they may vote for Oke, because of his deputy, who is from the area.

    Dauda is a popular grassroots politician in Akokoland and the entire northern district. He is a former local government chairman and later a lawmaker representing Akoko Northeast/Northwest at the House of Representatives. Besides, many aggrieved supporters of Senator Ajayi Boroffice have thrown their weight behind Oke for the November 26 contest.

    The bulk of the votes for Oke will come from Ondo South District, where he hails from. The AD candidate will have the sympathy of his people at the polls. The factional PDP candidate’s running mate, John Ola Mafo, is from the zone.  Mafo, a former Commissioner for Information, is from Ilaje axis.

    The perceived marginalisation of the zone under the current Mimiko administration will also spur many voters in the district to vote for Oke. The Muslims may also back him, because his running mate is of their faith.

    With PDP wracked by internal crisis and the APC unable to settle its internal problems, Oke seems to be the man to beat in the election.

     

    Agunloye

     

    The former Minister and Chief Executive of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) is a former governorship aspirant under the defunct ACN. The Erusu-Akoko born politician has been oiling his campaign machineries for the race to Alagbaka House. Already, he has secured the support of his home base, especially the backing by the influential Akoko Consultative Forum (ACF), led by Prince Festus Obaude. The group has been running a campaign forum for Agunloye. It has also been meeting stakeholders, including traditional rulers from the area on the need to support Agunloye whose party has no crisis like the major parties.

    Agunloye’s undoing however is that he may not have much backing in the other two senatorial districts, Ondo Central and Ondo South. He has tried to boost his chances by making a popular woman politician, Erelu Modupe Akindele-Martins, his running mate.

    Akindele-Martins is a former ACN women leader in the state. Since her emergence as the SDP deputy governorship candidate, the Okitipupa-born politician and socialite has been attracting lots of women to the AD camp. Women have a considerable large voting strength in the state.

    The AD may also reap from the fact that the two major parties, the APC and the PDP, are in disarray over their disputed primaries may work in Agunloye’s favour. Before their September 3 primary election, the APC was fortified, strong and believed to be the party to beat in the November 26 Ondo governorship. Its secretariat, near the Catholic Cathedral in Akure, was always a beehive of activities.

    But, few days to the shadow election when it was rumoured that one of the aspirants had been adopted, a group of people under the aegis of Movement Against Imposition (MAI) marched on the streets to protest against the development. This later degenerated into the purported sack of the party state chairman, Mr. Isaac Kekemeke by the MAI, which forced the former Secretary to the State Government (SSG) to remove all his properties in the secretariat and started running the party from his personal residence.

    The factionalisation is even worse within the PDP. The unhealthy rivalry between the Senator Ahmed Markafi-led group and the one led by Senator Ali Modu Sheriff at the national level has deeply affected the chances of the ruling party in the state.

    The party conducted two primaries, one in Akure and the other in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital. At last, INEC recognized Ibrahim who emerged as the flag bearer of the Sheriff camp during the Ibadan primary as the authentic candidate of the PDP. This development has dimmed the chances of the party, which was hitherto running a robust campaign for Jegede, who is regarded as a political son of Mimiko. This has saddened many supporters of the party and will no doubt affect the PDP in the election; many aggrieved supporters have vowed to stay at home on election day, rather than give their votes to Ibrahim.

    The fall out of the acrimony within the two major political parties may be a blessing in disguise for AD.

  • Confusion, despondency cloud Ondo governorship

    Confusion, despondency cloud Ondo governorship

    The November 26 governorship election in Ondo State has been generating interest across the country. From the beginning, the All Progressives Congress (APC) got it wrong during its primary. At the last minute, the situation in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) worsened with the substitution of Mr. Eyitayo Jegede’s name with that of Chief Jimoh Ibrahim as the flag bearer. Correspondent DAMISI OJO looks at the chances of the candidates and how the crisis in the two major parties may tilt the pendulum in favour of the flag bearer of the Alliance of Democracy (AD), Chief Olusola Oke.

    WITH less than three weeks to the Ondo State governorship election, the gladiators are in a fierce battle for the Alagbaka Government House. For the first time, the people are witnessing serious campaigns by the political parties. The candidates have introduced house-to-house campaigns, radio-television jingles, fliers, imposing posters and billboards.

    Even in taxi cabs and commercial buses, contestants are using their foot soldiers to convince the electorate on the need to vote for them to make a difference.

    Twenty-eight parties are in the race for the November 26 poll. But, only four are considered serious contenders. They are: Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN) of the All Progressives Congress (APC); Olusola Oke of the Alliance for Democracy (AD); Jimoh Ibrahim of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP); and Olu Agunloye of the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

    Those considered as fringe candidates are: Mrs Oluyi Folasade Helen (the African Peoples Alliance (APA); Gbenga Arigbede (the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP); Stephen Adeuti (the Labour Party (LP); Oyeleye Fasua (the Citizen Popular Party (CPP); Mrs Olagbegi Orunmoluyi (the Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN); and Mrs Falana Julianah (the Democratic People Party (DPP).

    Others include: Adeeyo Matthew (the Democratic Peoples Congress (DPC); Oluwadare Bada (the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP); Odedeyi John (the Hope Democratic Party (HDP); Ayibiowu Ige (the National Unity Party (NUP); Mrs Funmilayo Jenyo (the Better Nigeria Progressive Party (BNPP); and Adeniran Adeniyi (the Young Democratic Party (YDP).

    The political temperature in Ondo State is getting to a feverish level, following the crisis rocking the two major parties. The intra-party crisis is a fall-out of their shadow polls.

    The crisis within the PDP is the deepest. Few days ago, it was the former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Eyitayo Jegede (SAN) that was recognized by INEC as the authentic candidate of the party. But, with the recent Abuja Federal High Court judgment that insisted that Ibrahim is the party’s authentic candidate, INEC had to substitute Jegede’s name with that of Ibrahim.

    Jegede, an indigene of Akure, has the full backing of Mimiko who in spite of criticisms preferred Jegede to any other aspirant in the Markafi’s camp of the PDP. The duo is from the same Ondo Central District that has dominated the seat for almost eight years. The insistence of Mimiko had truncated the zoning arrangement that had been in place since the return to civil rule in 1999. The ‘Akure Agenda’, which threw up Jegede as the candidate of the Mimiko-led faction, is backed by the Akure traditional ruler, Oba Ogunlade Aladetoyinbo.

    Before his name was removed from the list of candidates, Jegede had embarked on a sophisticated and decentralised campaign, especially in the central district. His branded campaign vehicles were all over the state, putting up banners and posters distributing stickers and other souvenirs generously to prospective voters.

    Ironically, it was the same day the Akure High Court presided over by Justice Rotimi Olamide directed that Jegede’s name should not be replaced that Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court in Abuja ruled that INEC should substitute Jegede’s name with that of the business magnate, Ibrahim.

    There was initial jubilation in Akure over the Akure court judgment, as many of Jegede’s supporters defied the rain and trooped out to celebrate. But, it was short-lived, following counter directive from Abuja that Ibrahim is the authentic candidate.

    With the announcement, a pandemonium was let loose in Akure, the Ondo State capital. Protests broke out in the capital as early as 7.00 am the following morning. It was masterminded by members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers’ Union (NURTW); they burned tyres on major highways and disrupted the peace of the city.

    With the current state of affairs, who will carry the day? Is it Akeredolu, Ibrahim, Oke or Agunloye?

     

    Akeredolu

     

    The former Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) President was also the governorship candidate of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in 2012. Thus, his political structure is still intact. Some of his supporters have however left the APC, following the crisis that rocked the party after the primary.

    The economic crunch in the country, which has inflicted a bad image on the APC as a party, may affect his chances; as many people are of the opinion that President Muhammadu Buhari has not done enough to alleviate the suffering of the masses who voted overwhelmingly for him last year.

    Akeredolu may not do well in Ondo Central, although some bigwigs are backing him in the zone. They include: the senator representing the district, Chief Tayo Alasoadura; former lawmaker, Ifedayo Abegunde (Abena); and the immediate past senator representing the district, Dr Ayo Akinyelure.

    The APC flag bearer is the candidate to beat in Owo because he hails from the town. In Owo/Ose federal constituency, he would sweep the polls. The two other federal constituencies are in Akokoland. They are: Akoko Northeast/Akoko Northwest and Akoko Southeast/Southwest. The Akokos, who are in majority in the North District, have long been clamouring for one of their sons or daughters to emerge as the governor.

    Unfortunately, notable politicians from the area are not happy over the emergence of Akeredolu as the flag bearer and therefore, they may not back him the November 26 contest. Otherwise, the whole Ondo North would have been a smooth sail for the APC. Two of the aggrieved APC governorship aspirants are from the area. They are: Segun Abraham, who was the first runner-up in the primary, and Senator Ajayi Boroffice who came fourth.

    While Akeredolu may garner more votes in Owo/Ose axis, the support for him in Akoko is not certain, due to the fact that the AD’s flag bearer, Olusola Oke picked his running mate from the area. The fact that Agunloye, the SDP candidate, is an indigene of Erusu-Akoko will elicit the sympathy of many of his kinsmen and women.

    The supporters of Abraham may gravitate towards AD during the election. It is believed that many supporters of Boroffice are also with Oke.

    Ondo South has six local government areas: Ile-Oluji/Oke-igbo, Odigbo, Irele, Okitipupa, Ilaje and Ese-Odo. In past elections, the votes from the area have always been in favour of the PDP. For instance, the only senator in the Red Chamber on the platform of the PDP, Senator Yele Omogunwa, is from the district, while all the House of Representatives members from the district are also on the PDP platform. So, the Akeredolu Campaign Organisation has more work to do in the zone.

    Oke, who is from the riverine Ilaje community of Ilowo, is widely expected to clear the votes in Ondo South District.

    Nevertheless, the fact that Akeredolu’s running mate, Agboola Ajayi, is from the area will be a boost for the APC flag bearer. Ajayi is a former member of the House of Representatives and he is not a push-over in the politics of the area. Akeredolu also enjoys the support of the late Agagu’s brother, Femi Agagu and other APC bigwigs in the area, including Princess Oladunni Odu, Ajose Kudehinbu, Olu Bajowa and lucky Aiyedatiwa.

    Observers believe the acrimony in the APC may affect the fortune of its candidate, but reconciliation and mass mobilisation of voters are on-going to facilitate victory. However, there is need for a truce. The defection of Oke with his supporters may have an adverse effect for the APC.

     

    Ibrahim

     

    The fate of the PDP still hangs in the balance because of the intractable crisis rocking the party over the choice of its flag bearer. If the appeal filed by Jegede is not determined before November 26 or if it goes against the Mimiko-led faction, chances are that PDP supporters may resolve to back another candidate and scuttle the ambition of Ibrahim to govern the state.

    Ondo Central has the largest number of registered voters in the state and Akure metropolis has a large chunk on the list. Indications are that, with the emergence of the business mogul as the PDP candidate, the zone may vote against the PDP candidate. Going by the latest slogan ‘no Jegede, no vote in Akure’, indigenes of the capital city may stand aloof and allow non-indigenes to vote for candidates of their choice. Thus, it might be harvest of votes for the APC and the AD candidates.

    Besides, Ibrahim has no political structure. If the PDP is compelled to field the business magnet, there is the possibility of protest votes against the candidate of the Sheriff’s camp of the party in Ondo.

    Irrespective of who is contesting the election, Ibrahim or Jegede, the APC may have an upper hand in Ondo North District, because its candidate hails from the zone. The district has always been a no-go area for the PDP and other parties. Its residents are purely progressives. This is based on the legacies of the likes of the late Pa Adekunle Ajasin and Adebayo Adefarati, also of blessed memory. They imbibed the spirit of progressivism and impacted it on their people in the up north.

    However, the influence of the Deputy Governor Lasisi Oluboyo, Saka Lawal, Bamiduro Dada, Fatai Adams and others will boost the overall result of the PDP candidate in the area.

    Ibrahim may garner some reasonable votes from Ondo South District, where he hails from. The businessman is from Igbotako, Okitipupa Local Government Area and his people will vote for him, though he has no political structure in the zone.

    Some key PDP stalwarts in the area will back him to ensure that their son wins the poll. People in the South District, particularly from Ilaje axis, are not happy with the Mimiko administration. They say their area is marginalised, despite the fact that it is “the hen that lays the golden eggs”.

     

    Oke

     

    Oke is a successful legal practitioner and a former governorship aspirant on the APC platform. But, he dumped the party after the emergence of Akeredolu as its candidate. Oke petitioned the primary election appeal which recommended fresh primary for the contestants, because of undeniable irregularities. The National Working Committee (NWC) was to effect the conduct of the re-run primary, but the APC National Chairman Chief John Odigie-Oyegun overruled it and this prompted the former National Legal Adviser of the PDP to leave the party and join AD, where was promptly offered the party’s governorship ticket.

    Oke was also the governorship candidate of the PDP in the 2012 poll; contesting against Mimiko who ran on the platform of Labour Party (LP) then and Akeredolu of the defunct ACN.

    The Ilowo-born politician has been described as a grassroots man and has been attracting many supporters from the APC and PDP, because of their disputed primaries.

    His strength in the Ondo Central District rests solely on the fact that the leader of the party in Ondo State, Dr. Olowookere, is an indigene of Akure. He has the structure to boost Oke’s chances in the six local government areas in the district.

    Besides, Oke is banking on some prominent politicians that were formerly in the APC, but moved with him to the AD. Many of them are still operating secretly, using their resources to support to ensure that the AD flag bearer gets good votes from the largest senatorial district where the bulk of the votes will come from.

    Among those from the Ondo Central working for Oke are the Director-General of his campaign organisation and former Special Adviser to Osun State governor, Mr. Bola Ilori; the former Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to Governor Mimiko), now a lawyer, Mr. Kolawole Olabisi, who is the chairman, Media and Publicity Committee for the AD; and the former Commissioner for Transport, Otunba Omoniyi Omodara.

    One of the strategies that may work for Oke in Ondo North is the fact that his running mate, Ganny Dauda, is from the zone. The people of Akoko, who constitute the majority in the district, are aggrieved and since the two strongest political parties have not favoured them in the choice of the governorship flag bearers, they may vote for Oke, because of his deputy, who is from the area.

    Dauda is a popular grassroots politician in Akokoland and the entire northern district. He was a former local government chairman and later a lawmaker representing Akoko Northeast/Northwest at the House of Representatives. Besides, many aggrieved supporters of Senator Ajayi Boroffice have thrown their weight behind Oke for the November 26 contest.

    The bulk of the votes for Oke will come from Ondo South District, where he hails from. The AD candidate will have the sympathy of his people at the polls, especially now that Jegede’s name has been dropped; the factional PDP candidate’s running mate, John Ola Mafo, is from the zone.  Mafo, a former Commissioner for Information, is from Ilaje axis.

    The perceived marginalisation of the zone under the current Mimiko administration will also spur many voters in the district to vote for Oke. The Muslim may also back him, because his running mate is of their faith.

     

    Agunloye

     

    The former Minister and Chief Executive of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) is a former governorship aspirant under the defunct ACN. The Erusu-Akoko born politician has been oiling his campaign machineries for the race to Alagbaka House. Already, he has secured the support of his home base, especially the backing by the influential Akoko Consultative Forum (ACF), led by Prince Festus Obaude. The group has been running a campaign forum for Agunloye. It has also been meeting stakeholders, including traditional rulers from the area on the need to support Agunloye whose party has no crisis like the major parties.

    Agunloye’s undoing however is that he may not have much backing in the other two senatorial districts, Ondo Central and Ondo South. He has tried to boost his chances by making a popular woman politician, Erelu Modupe Akindele-Martins, his running mate.

    Akindele-Martins is a former ACN women leader in the state. Since her emergence as the SDP deputy governorship candidate, the Okitipupa-born politician and socialite has been attracting lots of women to the AD camp. Women have a considerable large voting strength in the state.

    The AD may also reap from the fact that the two major parties, the APC and the PDP, are in disarray over their disputed primaries may work in Agunloye’s favour. Before their September 3 primary election, the APC was fortified, strong and believed to be the party to beat in the November 26 Ondo governorship. Its secretariat, near the Catholic Cathedral in Akure, was always a beehive of activities.

    But, few days to the shadow election when it was rumoured that one of the aspirants had been adopted, a group of people under the aegis of Movement Against Imposition (MAI) marched on the streets to protest against the development. This later degenerated into the purported sack of the party state chairman, Mr. Isaac Kekemeke by the MAI, which forced the former Secretary to the State Government (SSG) to remove all his properties in the secretariat and started running the party from his personal residence.

    The factionalisation is even worse within the PDP. The unhealthy rivalry between the Senator Ahmed Markafi-led group and the one led by Senator Ali Modu Sheriff at the national level has deeply affected the chances of the ruling party in the state.

    The party conducted two primaries, one in Akure and the other in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital. At last, INEC recognized Ibrahim who emerged as the flag bearer of the Sheriff camp during the Ibadan primary as the authentic candidate of the PDP. This development has dimmed the chances of the party, which was hitherto running a robust campaign for Jegede, who is regarded as a political son of Mimiko. This has saddened many supporters of the party and will no doubt affect the PDP in the election; many aggrieved supporters have vowed to stay at home on election day, rather than give their votes to Ibrahim.

    The fall out of the acrimony within the two major political parties may be a blessing in disguise for AD.

  • Confusion over PDP Port Harcourt convention

    Confusion over PDP Port Harcourt convention

    Courts stick to conflicting rulings

    Police deploy men, officers to venue

    There was confusion yesterday over the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) convention slated for Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, today.

    Two Federal High Courts – one in Abuja and the other in Port Harcourt – stuck to their conflicting rulings on the convention.

    Justice Ibrahim Watila of the Port Harcourt court gave the greenlight for  the convention, but his Abuja counterpart, Justice Okon Abang stopped the convention.

    The judges were ruling on separate suits brought by the PDP caretaker committee led by Senator Ahmed Makarfi and the National Executive Committee (NEC) chaired by Senator Ali Modu Sheriff.

    Justice Watila refused the request of the Sheriff camp to joined in the suit filed by the Convention Planning Committee secretary Senator Ben Obi against the police, Department of State Services (DSS) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    In the suit, Obi prayed the court to direct the police and DSS to provide security for the convention while INEC should monitor the exercise.

    There was drama in court as Sheriff’s lawyers fought for him to be joined in the case. Justice Watila declined their request as he rebuffed all efforts by Yemi George (SAN) to announce his appearance for Sheriff.

    George arrived in court while Oladejo Lamikanra (SAN) for Obi was arguing his client’s case. Justice Watila stood the case down till 2pm for his ruling.

    On resumption, George renewed efforts to announce his appearance, “at least”, for what he called “record purpose”, but the judge shouted him down.

    He accused George of attempting “to arrest the ruling”.

    ‘Not a kangaroo court’

    Justice Watila said: “You cannot be heard in this case, there is nothing before me. You cannot just come from nowhere to seek to be joined, this matter is for ruling. I adjourned it since morning and have been working since then, you did not file your processes.

    “Sit down, this is not a kangaroo court, I am not a politician, neither am I a businessman. The convention in question is tomorrow (today), and you know the exigency of this ruling to the convention.”

    In his ruling, Justice Watila held that the Makarfi committee is the executive authority in all matters concerning PDP.

    Ordering the  Police,  DSS  and INEC  to  participate  in  the  convention, he said: “It is necessary for the defendants to carry out their respective  functions at the 17th August,  2016 convention”.

    The court stressed that all the defendants were bound to obey the decision.

    “This court will not shy away from protecting the  sanctity of its judgment. The court has held that the appointment of the PDP National Caretaker Committee is valid. In view of the subsisting judgment of this Honourable Court in Suit No:FHC/PH /CS /524/2016,  PDP V.  Senator Ali-Modu Sheriff and others, the defendants  cannot lawfully interfere or prevent the Plaintiff from organising /holding the Planned National Convention of the PDP  in Port Harcourt on August 17th 2016.”

    He said  the defendants  were served all the processes by Obi, but they chose not to  contest the facts.

    Justice Watila  said court records showed that the proceedings and order of 10th August, 2016 and the interlocutory injunction of  15th August,  2016 were served on the defendants with proof  of  service .

    After the court rose, George told reporters: “I am counsel to Alhaji Modu Sheriff. We became aware of the matter in court yesterday (Monday). Our client briefed us to apply to be joined, that was why we were in court today (yesterday) and the court in his wisdom decided not to even look at the processes not to talk of deciding it one way or the other.

    “The court’s action is against what is the normal principle that is known to everybody. The Supreme Court has already established it that no matter how stupid an application is, it must be decided one way or the other. But in his wisdom, he decided not to even look at it.”

    Asked if his application was not a deliberate attempt to arrest the ruling, he said: “It cannot be an attempt to arrest  ruling because, the parties in the initial case decided by Justice Muhammad Liman also of the Port Harcourt Federal High Court were six and they came to enforce against three, and the other people are saying, we are parties to that judgement, we have appealed and we should be allowed to also say something in respect of this new one filed, but the court in its wisdom said no we cannot do so.”

    ‘Flout orders and be punished’

    Stopping the convention , Justice Abang ordered INEC not to monitor it.

    He reaffirmed his interim orders made on Monday, converting them to an interlocutory injunction to last until the determination of the substantive suit filed by Sheriff and members of his group.

    The ruling was on a motion on notice for interlocutory injunction argued by the plaintiffs’ lawyer, Adeniyi Akintola (SAN).

    The judge faulted the decision of his Port Harcourt counterpart  to assume jurisdiction on the case relating to the PDP convention and directed that his order be accompanied with Form 48 (Notice of disobedience of court order) and served on the INEC Chairman and Secretary.

    He said failure by INEC or any of the defendants to comply with his order “will attract disciplinary action” provided “the plaintiffs know what to do.”

    The judge also directed the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) to among others, ensure the enforcement of his orders.

    The judge held that the motion was not opposed by the respondents.

    He said the Makarfi camp, which was yesterday joined as the third to the ninth respondents in the case adopted the strategy of not filing a counter-affidavit but filed other processes that were not placed in the court file.

    Justice Abang said the request for an adjournment by lawyers to Makarfi and others – Yunus Ustaz (SAN) and Ferdinand Orbih (SAN) – after Akintola  had moved his motion was an afterthought.

    “Having asked the court to adjourn to the next day to enable him file response to the plaintiffs’ processes, the lawyer to the 3rd to 9the defendants (Makarfi and eight other members of his committee) have waived their rights to be served within seven days,” the judge said.

    He noted that, rather than file a counter-affidavit to the plaintiffs’ motion for injunction, the defendants’ lawyers chose to file other processes that were only referred by the lawyer, but not placed in the court’s file.

    “The issue of asking for an adjournment is an afterthought. Therefore, a counsel will sink or float with the decision taken by him in the discharge of his professional duties to his client,” the judge said.

    Noting that lawyer to the PDP, Olagoke Fakunle (SAN) and that of INEC, Alhassan Umar, did not oppose the motion for injunction, the judge said: “In any case, the plaintiffs’ application is not opposed by any of the parties.

    “The law must take its course. The facts placed before this court are unchallenged and uncontroverted by the respondents when they had the opportunity to do so. The facts deposed to by the plaintiffs are credible.

    “The plaintiffs’ application is not opposed by any of the parties. I so hold. The defendants have not filed counter-affidavit to the application. They have opportunity of filing counter-affidavit and they failed to do so. The law must take its course.

    “It is my view that the facts placed before the court are unchallenged and uncontroverted by the defendants when they had the opportunity to do so. They had opportunity to file counter-affidavit, they failed to do so; they filed preliminary objection.

    “Their objection was not in the court’s file. I rely on the authority of the Supreme Court. The facts deposed to by the plaintiffs are credible and are deserving to grant the application in the overall interest of justice.

    “The plaintiffs’ application therefore succeeds and is accordingly granted as prayed in line with the reliefs endorsed on the motion paper dated July 20, 2016 and I make the following orders:

    “An order of interlocutory injunction is hereby made restraining the defendants (the nine of them), their servants, agents, howsoever named from conducting the national convention of PDP and from supervising or monitoring same under any guise and for electing any national officer of the (second) defendant (PDP), and for recognising same in any manner whatsoever pending the determination of the substantive suit.

    “An order of interlocutory injunction is hereby made restraining the PDP from presenting anybody and from sponsoring anybody for election into its offices and holding national convention, conference whatever name for the purpose of electing national officers of the second defendant pending the determination of this suit.

    “Prayer 3 is refused. The orders of Buba J. and the order of Idris J. are subsisting. You can take step to enforce the order. Prayer 3 is hereby refused and accordingly struck out. I so hold.

    “An order of interlocutory injunction is hereby made restraining the INEC from monitoring the national convention of PDP scheduled for Port Harcourt on Wednesday, August 17, 2016 or any other day and from accepting, publishing or recognising, conference or convention howsoever named being planned by second defendant.

    “The Inspector-General of Police shall enforce the order until all applications are disposed of.

    “The plaintiffs shall endorse Form 48 and serve and all the defendants, especially INEC to accompany the order.

    “Learned counsel for INEC shall inform the Chairman of the INEC of the court’s decision and failure to comply with the order of the court will attract disciplinary action against any party in disobedience provided the plaintiffs know what to do.”

    Judge blasts

    colleague over

    conflicting rulings

    Justice Abang blamed his Port Harcourt counterpart for the conflicting orders on the convention.

    “The Federal High Court, having regard to Section 249(1) of the Constitution, is one court, but with several divisions, for administrative convenience to bring administration of justice nearer to the people.

    “The issue of whether or not the PDP should hold its convention was raised by the plaintiffs in this suit. The case was assigned by the Chief Judge to this court on the 4th of July. Assigning a case to a judge is a constitutional duty of the Chief Judge of this court and no person can question it because it is an administrative decision.

    “The issue of whether the PDP should hold its convention, having been assigned to this court, no other division of the Federal High Court ought to be seised of the matter in the same manner, so as to avoid conflicting decisions,” he said.

    The judge noted that in any civilised country, like Nigeria where there is the Court of Appeal to correct any error that may arise from the proceedings of the high court, parties ought to have availed themselves such opportunity rather than going before another division of the Federal High Court with the same suit.

    Justice Abang said though he lacked the power to review the decision of the Port Harcourt court, except it was a nullity, the judge should have drawn the Chief Judge’s attention to the new case filed before it on the same issue already before the Abuja division.

    He said the unenviable situation today would have been avoided if the judge in the Port-Harcourt division of the court had refused to assume jurisdiction over a case filed on August 9 after the Abuja division was already handling similar case filed in July.

    Justice Abang, who queried the jurisdiction of the Port Harcourt court over the matter, when parties like PDP and INEC have their headquarters in Abuja, said his court was not struggling jurisdiction with the Port Harcourt division, but that it is concerned about the conflicting decisions.

    “The attitude of my brother judge in Port-Harcourt is what the Supreme Court condemned in the case of NIBS v. Union Bank reported in part 2004 NWLR.

    “Therefore, the Port Harcourt division of the Federal High Court cannot make an order neutralising the order made by this court.

    “This is so because a court of coordinate jurisdiction cannot make an order that has the effect of overruling the order made by this court on the 28th of July restraining parties from taking any steps in relation to the subject matter of this suit. Any person that disobeys the court will have himself to blame.Nobody should bring himself with the direct confrontation of this court,” Justice Abang said.

    The judge expressed discomfort over media report about the comments reportedly made by Prince Dayo Adeyeye (who is the 8th defendant in the case and a member of the Makarfi committee) castigating the court and judge for the interim orders made on August 15.

    The judge said, but for the fact that the court is patient, it would have moved against Adeyeye for assuming judicial powers to query the court’s decision and make disparaging comments about the court.

    Further hearing in the substantive suit has been adjourned till September 7.

     

  • Confusion over status of education varsity

    The College of Education in Ekiadolor, Edo State was upgraded to a university in 2014.  The workers’ joy over the exercise has turned to confusion as they do not know if they have a future in the new Tayo Akpata University of Education, OSAGIE OTABOR reports.

    WHEN members of Edo State House of Assembly upgraded the College of Education, Ekiadolor into a university two years ago, the workers were happy.

    They looked forward to a boost in their welfare since they would automatically enjoin the university salary scale as members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

    In March 2014, the executive bill for the establishment of University of Education, Ekiadolor and the University of Science and Technology, which later became Edo University, Iyamho, was passed into law.

    Two years later, the Edo University, equipped with state-of-the-art facilities,  took off. It began its 2015/2016 academic session with 91 pioneer students who took their matriculation oath on June 12; while the process of securing accreditation for the Tayo Akpata University of Education is still on.

    Prof Amen Uhunmwangho, the provost of the college, had hoped that the National Universities Commission (NUC) would issue  the proposed university a licence before his tenure ended. This was not  to be. Last April,  Prof SEO Aduwa Ojiegbaen was appointed the university’s Vice Chancellor.

    Governor Adams Oshiomhole also appointed the former Speaker, Edo State House of Assembly, Thomas Okosun, as the Pro-Chancellor. In May, a former Vice Chancellor of the Ambrose Alli University, Prof. Dennis Agbonlahor, was named Chairman of the institution’s Evaluation Committee.

    Oshiomhole’s expectation from the university of education is to produce quality teachers for primary and secondary schools.  He called on the institution to de-emphasise the three-year National Certificate of Education (NCE) programme and pay greater attention to the degree programme.  He also underscored the need for academics to obtain the Ph.D, which is the minimum requirement for teaching in a university.

    “We will need to have a further interaction on that whether we shouldn’t scale down on the numbers for NCE.  From my interaction with NUC, now I know that as a senior lecturer, you must have a Ph.D. So, we are going to move away from where a master’s degree holder is teaching in Tayo Akpata University if he doesn’t have a Ph.D, he will just be a Graduate Assistant because the whole idea is that the people who pass through here must be qualitatively different from NCE holders. So that when we post them to our schools, we are sure that they are in a position to impart knowledge to our students and we should be able to measure the output, from the performance of our students in external exams like West African Examination Council (WAEC) or National Examination Council (NECO) and Joint Administrations and Matriculation Board (JAMB), etc.

    “Because the quality of teachers is important, my view is that to teach in our secondary schools: junior and senior secondary schools, we must have Bachelor of Education (B.ED) so that the students will be in very good hands,” said Oshiomhole while receiving the report of the evaluation committee.

    However, the workers are uneasy over how long it is taking the college to transform into a university.  They are concerned about meeting the requirements when jobs into the university are advertised. They don’t know whether they are staff of the new university or the old college of education. The college has stopped admitting fresh students into the NCE programme. The workers last received salaries in March because of what they termed the school’s inability to access monthly subvention.

    The workers have vowed to go to the Edo University at Iyamho, in Etsako West Local Government Area to protest against their perceived  marginalisation by the state government.

    Chairman, College of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) Comrade Fred Omonuwa wondered why the education university is having problems, while the one at Iyamho has taken off effortlessly.

    Omonuwa said: “We may be forced to move to Iyamho to protest at the gate of Edo University. As we speak now, we can’t admit new students as College of Education nor as Tayo Akpata University. There is a stalemate presently at Tayo Akpata University over identity question and paucity of fund to the university.

    “All the hue and cry about Tayo Akpata University is for political reasons to make sure that the Edo University, Iyamho, has a smooth sail. From all indications, the law from the Edo State House of Assembly has repealed the College of Education, Ekiadolor, but the worst of all is that there is no money as subvention to the new university. We don’t have license to operate, we are not receiving salary and to even talk of clearing overgrown grasses is a problem.

    “The problem is where the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to supplement government subvention is. I can tell that there is subvention lying down but there is no IGR to pay, we have not received salary for three months. And we are aware that workers at the Edo University Iyamho are receiving salaries.

    “We are disappointed that in a transition like this, our expectation is that the government should be able to bring about 100 percent subvention to pay the workers. We are even talking about salaries don’t forget there is a backlog of other arrears in terms of cooperative funds and gratuities running into several millions as well as promotion arrears because in a transition you must inherit both assets and liabilities.

    “The Edo Univeristy at Iyamho has started and there is nothing on ground to show that the Tayo Akpata University is about to take off; of course we may want to say that the governor the other day appointed a Vice Chancellor and equally inaugurated a Governing Council for the so-called university but there must be things on ground to show that the university is taking place. While the Edo Univeristy at Iyamho has license to operate, the so-called Tayo Akpata University does not have a license to operate; the governing council of Tayo Akpata is supposed to go for the procurement of license but that was not what happened with that of Iyamho. At Iyamho, the government got the licence, why is the reverse the case here?”

    Omonuwa said the union members were yet to meet with the university council to know their fate.

    He said the right thing was for the council to allow lecturers time to upgrade their qualifications and that what further fuelled their confusion was the appointment of a Deputy Provost, Dr. C. I. Aghimien.

    “Which school is he going to function if they said the College no longer exist? We are confused. We have facilities whether it will meet the NUC accreditation is another matter.”

    Okosun said the college would be phased out in two years to enable students in years two and three complete their studies.

    The university, he said, would begin admission of new students in November and would co-exist with the college until the old students have graduated.

    “The institution is in transit. To protect the interest of students already in years two and three, we have to allow them graduate. Any new student will enter as Tayo Akpata University.

    “You know we need professors in a university. There is no professor there. We are going to advertise and many of the staff cannot be part of the university. Those already working are free to apply and we will employ them if they are qualified.

    “They are not staff of the Tayo Akpata University, so we don’t owe any body salaries. The state government will decide what to do with those that failed to gain employment into the university,” he said.

    Okosun said the university would meet the accreditation requirements.

    A lecturer in the Department of Psychology, Mr. Godwin Igbinoba, faulted Okosun’s claim about the workers not being part of the university.

    He accused the institution’s governing council of not implementing the Dennis Agbonlahor Committee report.

    He said the report settles everything about the institution by recommending that 120 lecturers as qualified to be absorbed into the university with a proviso that they their credentials.

    Igbinoba said the report recommended that lecturers with Masters should be given five years to obtain their doctorate while those with first degree be given three years to do their Masters.

    The lecturer also said the Agbonlahor Committee verified the certificates of the workers and said 120 lecturers were qualified.

    “It will be the biggest joke of the century for them to say we are not staff of the new university. The governing council and the commissioner do not know what is happening. We are ready to take them up.

    “We were engaged as staff of the College of Education. If they said we are members of the old order, then they are double speaking. The report of that committee is not being followed. I have a copy at home. The report settled many things. Some lecturers were recommended to be taken to other colleges,” he said.