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Tag: Epic battle

  • 9th NASS: Epic battle brews in Senate

    The battle for the Senate Presidency is gaining momentum by the day.

    With certificates of return issued to senators-elect by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Thursday, the battle for the nation’s number three seat has shifted to the geo-political zones.

    Impeccable sources listed North East, South South and South East geo-political zones as the front runners in the jostle for the exalted seat of the Senate President.

    While the three zones are said to have stepped up their bid for the Senate President slot, the North West zone is also said to be interested in the position of Deputy Senate President.

    The zones, it was gathered, are reaching out to the Presidency and the leadership of All Progressives Congress (APC) to make case for themselves in the zoning arrangements of APC.

    With APC’s majority of 65 members, PDP 42 and YPP 1, APC is expected to produce the President of the Ninth Senate.

    Findings showed that sitting senators and others newly elected were positioning themselves to grab available leadership positions in the Ninth Senate, which may be inaugurated on June 8.

    Inside sources believe that until the APC rolls out its zoning formula, the intrigue, scheming by aspirants for the coveted seat would not abate.

    Front runners in the race for Senate Presidency include Senators Ahmed Lawan (Yobe North), Mohammed Ali Ndume (Borno South), Mohammed Danjuma Goje (Gombe Central) all from North East.

    Senator Abdullahi Adamu (Nasarawa West), who is also said to have indicated interest in the Senate top job, hails from the North Central geo-political zone.

    New entrants for the exalted position are said to include Senators Benjamin Uwajimogu, Francis Alimikhena and Senator-elect Orji Uzor Kalu.

    But some of them are regarded as mere pretenders for the top job.

    Lawan, a sitting senator and Senate Leader, was highly favoured by the APC in 2015 for the position of Senate President.

    Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki, however, upstaged Lawan in what is widely regarded as an “unholy alliance” with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senators, to become the Senate President in 2015.

    It is however generally believed that the Yobe North Senator looks good to become the Senate President this time around if the APC zones the position to the North East.

    Lawan is said to have already stepped up his bid to clinch the Senate top job.

    He appears the candidate to beat in the contest, going by his track record and standing in the APC.

    Senator Ndume contested the position of Deputy Senate President in 2015 but lost to Senator Ike Ekweremadu.

    Ndume, a former Senate leader, has never hidden his desire to become the Senate President.

    Those close to him say the Borno South Senator is networking in and out of APC to actualise his ambition.

    Senator Abdullahi Adamu, leader of the Legislative Support Group for President Muhammadu Buhari, is also said to have oiled his machinery to give the Senate top job a shot.

    Adamu, it was gathered, is leveraging on his unalloyed support for Buhari and his loyalty to APC to make a case for occupying the Senate President’s seat.

    The dark horse in the race is said to be Mohammed Danjuma Goje.

    Close watchers of the tussle for the seat say Saraki’s loyalists and PDP Senators may back Goje in the contest for Senate presidency.

    The Gombe Central Senator, though a strong APC member, is considered “a moderate who is likely to protect the interest of PDP members in the chamber.”

    PDP insiders say the permutations as to how to cast their net would be directed by the party’s leadership.

    Those positioning themselves for the Senate top job from the South South are said to include the Senate Deputy Whip, Senator Francis Alimikhena and the Delta Central Senator, Ovie Omo-Agege.

    Observers say Alimikhena (Edo North) and Omo-Agege may be banking on the influence of APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, to ensure zoning the slot of either the Senate President or Deputy Senate President to the South-South geo-political zone.

    If that happens, the duo would be in a better position to clinch one of the positions.

    In the South East, Senators Orji Uzor Kalu (Abia North) and Benjamin Uwajimogu (Imo North) are said to have their eyes on the Senate Presidency if the slot is allotted to the zone.

    Kalu, described as a “go getter” by those close to him, and Uwajimogu are the only APC senators from the South East.

    The duo are said to be selling their aspiration on the plank that the South East geo-political zone would be out of the scheme of things if the Senate Presidency eludes the zone.

    Senator Kabiru Gaya has made case for the slot of Deputy Senate President to be zoned to North West to enable him go for it.

    Gaya, Kano South and Chairman Senate Committee on Works, has already declared his aspiration and claimed that his colleagues in the red chamber are behind him.

    Gaya said: “I thank the Almighty Allah who granted me the grace of being elected into the Senate for the fourth time.

    “As regards the leadership composition of the 9th Senate, majority of my colleagues are mounting pressure on me to run for the position of Deputy Senate President.

    “I want to use this opportunity to announce that I’m running for the position, being one of the most ranking Senators in the 9th Senate.”

    His ambition, according to the Kano South senator, is however subject to the determination and approval of the APC leadership and the Presidency.

    The aspiration of Gaya, who hails from the North West geo-political zone, may alter the permutations being made for the Senate leadership positions

    Observers say if Gaya emerges Deputy Senate President, it may be difficult to also retain the Senate Presidency in the North.

    The South West geo-political zone is not left out in the scheming for Senate leadership positions.

    Feelers from the zone show that the South West senators are waiting for the APC zoning arrangements to decide on their next line of action.

    A source close to one of the Senators-elect from the South West, Senator Olubunmi Adetunbi, said that the Ekiti North Senator is eligible to aspire for any position in the Senate zoned to the South West.

    “The truth of the matter is that APC still has to come up with its zoning arrangements, and depending on what is zoned to the South West, Adetunbi, as a ranking senator, is eligible and will show more than a passing interest in the slots,” the source said.

    But aspirants banking on the support of the Presidency to secure Senate top jobs may be disappointed.

    Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Affairs (Senate), Senator Ita Enang, said that President Buhari believes strongly in the principle of separation of power and may not interfere in the selection process of the leadership of the National Assembly

    “President Muhammadu Buhari is a man of high principles. His stand on this matter is that each arm of government should function according to what the constitution says, and that every person in government should do the right thing, and that he will not go beyond what the constitution allows him and that every other arm of government should stick to their constitutional responsibilities,” Enang told reporters in Abuja yesterday.

  • 2019: APC, PDP prepare for epic battle in Kwara

    The Kwara State chapters of both the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have put behind them the initial hitches that trailed their governorship primaries. They are preparing for a major showdown next year. Correspondent AdeKunle Jimoh reports.

    As the 2019 governorship election draws closer, candidates of all the major parties are dotting their ‘i’s and crossing their ‘t’s for the epic battle. Indeed, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are set for the battle that would decide who will dominate Kwara politics in the coming dispensation.

    Both the APC and the PDP have put behind them the initial hitches that trailed the governorship primaries that produced their candidates: Mallam Abulrahman Abdulrasaq and Abdulrazak Atunwa respectively.

    The two candidates hail from Ilorin, the Kwara State capital. While Atunwa, a current member of the House of Representatives belongs to the political dynasty of Senate President Bukola Saraki, Mallam Abdulrasaq is an oil magnate and a scion of the famous Abdulganiyu Folorunsho Abdulrasaq family. The older Abdulrasaq is the first Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) of northern extraction.

    The emergence of Abdulrasaq as the governorship candidate of the APC has sent jitters into the camp of the PDP. The reasons are not far-fetched. First, the APC candidate has been a key figure in Kwara politics for some time. He was the 2011 Kwara State governorship candidate of the defunct Congress for Progressives Change (CPC). In 2015, he emerged as the Kwara Central senatorial candidate of the PDP.

    Besides, being a man of stupendous wealth, he has the wherewithal to battle the Saraki oligarchy naira for naira in the election, a source has said.

    More importantly, the general disenchantment of the electorate, particularly the Ilorin emirate, against the Bukola Saraki-led PDP might be a plus for the business tycoon.

    Also, being a member of the ruling party at the centre, the APC candidate stands a good chance of defeating his PDP counterpart.

    But, other observers believe the family of the APC candidate is too detached from stakeholders in the Ilorin emirate, where the family hails from. But, the older Abdulrasaq is said to have paid his dues in the emirate. For instance, he single-handedly built the first private secondary school, now known as Government High School, Ilorin. The school celebrated its 50 anniversary last year.

    The PDP candidate, Atunwa, also has what it takes to give his APC counterpart a run for his money. Under the leadership of Senator Saraki, he is believed to have garnered an intimidating political profile. For instance, the 49-year old Atunwa is a member of the House of Representatives. He represents Asa/Ilorin West Federal Constituency.

    He is the Chairman of the House Committee on Justice. He is also currently heading the House Committee investigating corruption in the award of Oil Prospecting License (OPL) 245.

    Born on the October 17, 1969 in Ilorin, Kwara State, he attended Immaculate Heart Secondary School, where he obtained Ordinary Level Certificate in 1986.

    Thereafter, Atunwa studied law at the University Of East London, graduating in 1992. He further obtained his Masters Degree (LLM) in International Law from the University of London in 1993. He was called to the Bar of England and Wales in October 1994 by the Inner Temple Inns of Court.

    After 11 successful years as a Barrister at law in London, where he specialised in criminal and international law, Atunwa returned to Nigeria in 2005.

    The 36-year old PDP candidate has served the state in various capacities since 2005. He served in the following capacities: Commissioner for Land and Housing from August 2005; Commissioner for Information and Home Affairs between 2006 and 2007; Commissioner for Works and Transport between 2007 and 2009; and Commissioner for Finance from 2009 to 2010. So, he has governance experience, working four different ministries.

    In 2011, he was elected into the Kwara State House of Assembly to represent Owode/Onire Constituency on the platform of the PDP and was later unanimously elected Speaker of the assembly.

    During the next political dispensation, in 2015, Atunwa became a federal lawmaker, following his election the House of Representatives, to represent Asa/Ilorin West Federal Constituency.

    The PDP flag bearer has a broad worldview; he is an avid reader and a licensed pilot certified in Nigeria and the United Kingdom.

    He is running a ‘Kwara First’ campaign that focuses on human capacity development, local content development to drive inclusive growth and create employment for the youth, as well as massive investment on health and education infrastructure.

    Shortly, after his emergence as the PDP candidate, Atunwa was enmeshed in a National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) certificate saga. Whether that will affect his chances at the poll or not remains to be seen.

    But, his constituents have accused him of poor representation; a fact Atunwa himself attested to in one of his outings. His words: “They say I am too far away from our people. Whenever they tell me that my first reaction is to say please pardon me for that.”

    Both the APC and the PDP candidates are confident that they will win next year’s governorship convincingly. The PDP is banking on the political sagacity and solidity of the Saraki dynasty, while the APC is depending on the general disillusionment and disenchantment against the Saraki-led PDP and the unity of purpose amongst the opposition. Hitherto, they had been in disarray.

    The following words of Senator Saraki summarises the confidence of the PDP: “Seasonal politicians think they can come three-to-six months to elections and think they can wrest power from us. We are with the people through thick and thin. Our people know us and they know we love them. On the day of election, we will know who is the paper weight and who is the heavy weight.”

    Echoing the determination to win the elections, Kwara APC Chairman, Bashir Bolarinwa, said during the party’s primary for the Ekiti/Oke-Ero/Isin/Irepodun Federal Constituency by-election: “We are very confident, because we are more united than before. It is always said that a house divided against itself will never stand. What we have attained is to see that we are one indivisible party; because we realise that it is in that unity that our strength actually lies. I want to tell you that as things are now we will be able to move mountains come February 2019.”

    Bolarinwa added: “So far, so good. As a matter of fact, our detractors had thought that we would not be able to put our acts together. But God has assisted us to put the detractors to same. We had 12 governorship aspirants and as tough as it was to produce a candidate, we thank God we were able to do that. I make bold to tell you that the remaining governorship aspirants have surrendered and are ready to queue behind our candidate. This is to tell you that our house is a very united one. We have been able to have a formidable house that will face the 2019 elections.

    “What happened today is an indication of how orderly our party has been that we are able to come up with a consensus candidate for the by-election for Ekiti/Oke-Ero, Isin/Irepodun Federal Constituency. It has been rancour-free. All the party leaders are represented, members of the party across all the wards have come together to endorse Abdulraheem Olawuyi to represent us in the by-election come November 17.”

    To demonstrate their support for the APC candidate and their determination to win the 2019 governorship election, some elders and stakeholders of the party frowned at the destruction of their candidate’s billboards by supporters of an aggrieved aspirant

    The elders and stakeholders therefore viewed the utterances of Prof. Shuaib Abdulraheem and the action of his supporters as an affront to President Muhammadu Buhari and the APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole.

    APC leader from the Kwara North, Senator Ahmed Mohammed, described the action as supportive of the opposition. He said: “It is on record that supporters of Prof. Abdulraheem destroyed the billboards of Mallam Abdulrasaq. We view these actions as disrespectful to both the party and the President. We call on the state chairman of the APC to take disciplinary action against such untoward behavior, which could be interpreted as supportive of the opposition.

    “At this critical period, we urged Kwarans to neglect the distractions and commit themselves to a purposeful and united APC. We need integration and not separation.”

    He added that Prof Abdulraheem’s utterances and engagement with reporters recently at the Ilorin International Airport negated the spirit of the Abuja accord with President Buhari and Information and Culture Minister, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.

    Senator Mohammed added: “The action the engagement did not represent the resolutions of aspirants with Comrade Oshiomhole. It further embarrassed the decent meeting of Kwara APC and the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Despite the hiccups that initially characterized the October 6 governorship primary, the exercise went on smoothly and credibly. Finally, Mallam Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq emerged as the winner as the duly elected party flag bearer of the APC. Some aspirants protested against the result.

    “These were properly looked into by the appeal panel duly constituted by the party. This platform to ventilate grievances dismissed complaints for lack of merit and affirmed Abulrasaq as the candidate of the party for the 2019 governorship election in the state.

    “Afterwards, President Buhari hosted a delegation of Kwara APC members with Comrade Oshiohmole, Alhaji Lai Mohammed and all governorship aspirants in attendance. This gesture was appreciated by party men and women across the nation as a demonstration of solidarity with Kwara chapter of the APC.

    “The highlight of the meeting was the presentation of Mallam Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq as the APC governorship candidate for Kwara 2019 election. Party members felt relieved by the fact that the candidate reached out to each of the aspirants, as well as efforts of the party leadership to get the party in unison.”

    Though electioneering campaign is yet to begin in full throttle, both Abdulrasaq and Atunwa have started consultations; meetings and horse-trading across the length and breadth of the state.

    What is interesting this time around is that, the people of Kwara North senatorial district, who were hitherto political associates and supporters of the Saraki dynasty have all resolved to support the APC candidate. They claim that their support for the Saraki dynasty over the years had not been of any help to the zone.

     

  • 2019: Imo Archbishop, Okorocha in epic battle

    • Cleric’s support for APGA unsettles church

    Ahead the 2019 governorship election, fiery Archbishop of Owerri Catholic Diocese, Most Reverend Anthony Obinna has resumed attacks against Governor Rochas Okorocha and the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The duo have been locked in an epic battle over who produces the next governor in 2019.

    While the governor is relying on his sterling achievements to convince the electorate, the Archbishop is relying on the Church to oust the APC out of power.

    The cleric, in all his sermons since the beginning of the year, had launched a campaign to incite the electorate, especially Catholic faithful against Okorocha and the APC over his claims of non performance and highhandedness.

    Obinna, it was gathered, had not hidden his preference for the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), which he allegedly supported in the 2015 general elections.

    Not only had the Archbishop turned his podium as launch pad for the war against the governor, he had also taken advantage of any social event he attends to advance his plot against the Okorocha-led administration.

    Recently, the cleric stirred controversy during a burial ceremony at the St. Michael Catholic Church Ngwoma-Obube in Owerri North Council Area of the state when he charged those in attendance to ensure they stop the governor from producing a successor in 2019 by voting out the APC.

    He literarily turned the requiem mass into a campaign rally by calling on politicians, especially members of the opposition to come out and say if they will want the APC to continue in the state after 2019.

    The situation almost degenerated into chaos but for the maturity of government officials at the event, including the governor’s wife, Nkechi Okorocha, Chief of Staff to the governor, Uche Nwosu and Speaker Acho Ihim among others.

    Shortly after the incident, the media was awash, with the alleged prodding of the Archbishop, Okorocha’s supporters assaulted him, apparently to reenact the scenario of 2011, where former Governor, Ikedi Ohakim was accused of flogging a Catholic Priest, which contributed to his ouster from office.

    But coming under severe criticisms, the cleric quickly recanted the allegation of assault and instead claimed he was only verbally assaulted but never beaten up by Okorocha’s supporters.

    Just about when the dust of the seeming blackmail against the governor and the APC was settling down, the Archbishop re-launched another offensive while delivering his Easter message.

    He again reiterated his call on the electorate to ensure they use their Voter’s card to show the APC the way out in the 2019 governorship election, accusing the governor of clamping down on political opponents.

    But this time, the governor pointedly told the Archbishop that he cannot install an APGA governor in the state, daring him to show evidence of any case of harassment or illegal imprisonment of any opposition member in the state since he came to power in 2011.

    A statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Sam Onwuemeodo, reads: “”It has become obvious that the Archbishop has intensified his disdain or hatred for APC, President Muhammadu Buhari and Governor Okorocha this time because of the 2019 election.

    “And the Archbishop should know that most people have become fed up with his repeated unprovoked and unwarranted attacks on the governor and his government using every platform and every event available to him.

    “We do not think that the Archbishop should be doing that for the benefit of a particular political party or certain politicians.”

    The Archbishop’s partisan role has also polarised the Christian community in the state with majority of the church leaders showing disdain for the cleric’s action.

    Most of them, who spoke with our correspondent on the condition of anonymity, expressed worries over the partisan stands of the Archbishop, which they insisted is dragging the Church into unnecessary controversy.

    According to one of them: “The Church should be neutral in issues of politics so that it can with all openness proffer advice where and when necessary to the political class without fear or favour. The Church must not be seen as supporting one political group against the other”.

  • Governorship polls: APC, PDP in epic battle

    Governorship polls: APC, PDP in epic battle

    • APC tipped to win in North, South West

    • PDP may clinch Cross River, Delta, Enugu, Ebonyi

    • Fierce contest in Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Plateau, Nassarawa

    With the mass defection of prominent members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the last one week,the APC  is being tipped  to win the majority of governorship   seats in today’s   elections.

    Twenty nine gubernatorial tickets are to be contested.

    These are:Abia,Akwa Ibom,Adamawa, Bauchi, Benue,Borno,Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Enugu, Gombe, Imo,Jigawa, Kaduna , Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto,Taraba, Yobe and Zamfara.

    There will be no  governorship election in Anambra,Bayelsa,Edo,Ekiti,Kogi,Ondo and Osun States.

    The APC is favoured to consolidate on its  March 28 presidential /National Assembly elections triumph  by sweeping the gubernatorial polls in the Northeast,Northcentral,Northwest and the Southwest today .

    It is also expected to put up a strong fight in states like Rivers,Akwa Ibom,Plateau and Nasarawa  where it accused the PDP of manipulating security agents and electoral officers the last time around to record victory.

    Reports by our correspondents from across the states suggest that the PDP may win the governorship seats in Cross River,Delta,Enugu and Ebonyi.

    The gale of defections is a fallout of the election of APC’s General Muhammadu Buhari to run the country’s affairs for the next four years from May 29.

    The National Chairman of the PDP, Mallam Adamu Mu’azu, is optimistic that his party is still capable of pulling through a miracle today.

    He said last weekend that PDP’s target is to win 24 governorship  seats today, including those of Lagos, Rivers and Imo.

    Buhari’s victory may  have a bandwagon effect in states like Nasarawa,Taraba and Plateau where the result of the presidential contest was close.

    The impact  is also expected to tell in Akwa Ibom,Imo and Rivers States.

    The APC strongly disputed  the votes it garnered in those states in the presidential election on the grounds that some key INEC officials and security agents were compromised by the PDP to manipulate the results.

    The police have  since re-ordered their security plan in all the states to ensure free and fair elections today.

    For instance, more policemen have been deployed in some of the states and while Assistant Inspectors General (AIGs) have been posted to the states to co-ordinate secutiry.

    Many voters in the Southeast  and Southsouth where President Goodluck Jonathan hails from are  increasingly considering whether they want to be in  opposition to the central government and this may persuade some to vote for the APC.

    Other factors that are going to influence the pattern of voting are: strong party affiliation, ethno-religious configuration, the personality of the candidates; zoning / power shift syndrome and probable voters’ apathy.

    In the Southwest states of Lagos,Ogun and Oyo, the gubernatorial contests would be determined largely by local issues and personalities, although   the Buhari factor could come into play as the people of the region are excited at the prospect of being in the same boat as the party that controls the center.

    Voters in  Ondo, Ekiti and Osun  will only choose members of their state assemblies.

    The loss of home boy, President Jonathan, in the March 28 election  is likely to dampen the enthusiasm of his supporters in the Southsouth states of Rivers, Cross River, Akwa Ibom and Delta.

    Some of them are already wondering what life in opposition could be having strongly supported the central government in the last 16 years.

    There will be only state assembly elections in Edo and Bayelsa.

    The Southeast,  which voted overwhelmingly for the PDP and President Jonathan in the presidential/national elections  just like the Southsouth, may also  be persuaded to have a rethink today, especially in Imo and Abia states.

    The Caretaker Committee Chairman of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Ralph Obioha, in a statement asked voters in the two states to throw in their lot with APC so that the Igbo might have a voice in the incoming central government.

    The APC candidates  are expected to do well across the North.

    An example is Borno State  where the proclamation of Gambo Lawan as the PDP governorship candidate by the Federal High Court, Abuja, has thrown the party into a  disarray. The major loser in this is  a former governor of the  State, Senator  Modu Ali Sheriff, whose  plan to install his godson has hit the rocks. The development has forced many PDP members to stand aloof and watch how Lawan will weather the storm.

    This has left Lawan going into the governorship election as a political orphan. It remains to be seen what percentage of the 473, 543 votes recorded by APC two weeks ago  in Borno State against PDP’s  25,640 votes he can win.

    The situation is not too different in neighbouring Yobe  where APC  got 446, 265 votes in the presidential poll as  against  PDP’s 25, 526.

    Ex-Minister Adamu Maina Waziri does not seem to stand any chance against  Governor Ibrahim Gaidam who is seeking re-election on the platform of the APC.

    The APC, by all calculations ,appears comfortable in Katsina, home state of President-elect Buhari, Kaduna, home state of Vice President Namadi Sambo and Kano, which returned the largest votes of 1, 903,999  for Buhari.

    APC chieftains see Jigawa, Zamfara, Kebbi and Sokoto States as strongholds of the party and  are not entertaining any fear about losing there.

    Jigawa Governor Sule Lamido acknowledged after the presidential election  that the PDP was rejected at the polls on March 28 by Nigerians and that “there is a tendency for bandwagon effect.”

    But he was quick to add that “it is up to us to work very hard.”

  • Epic battle for Senate in Cross River Central

    Epic battle for Senate in Cross River Central

     Correspondent NICHOLAS KALU examines the profiles and chances of the three gladiators jostling for the Cross River Central senatorial ticket on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    The Cross River Central Senatorial District is widely known as the hotbed of politics in the Southsouth state. It is a politically sophisticated zone.

    Who is the next senator from the district? This is the question on the lips of observers. The stage is set for an epic battle for the slot.

    Since 2003, Victor Ndoma-Egba, a successful lawyer, has been representing the district. His is the Senate Leader. Although he is yet to unfold his aspiration, there are people already campaigning against his re-election.

    The Senate Leader was quoted in an interview as saying that the state would suffer, if he does not return to the Upper Chamber next year. But, he later refuted the it. Yet, he has remained silent on his next move.

    There are speculations that the governor, Liyel Imoke, his wife, Obioma, Ndoma-Egba, and other big wigs are interested in the seat. In fact, it was believed that the First Lady was being broomed for the role. When she launched her pet project, ‘the Power Political Advancement for Women (PPA4W) Project’, an initiative to encourage and support interested and qualified female politicians, late last year, people thought that she had kicked off the mobilisation for her ambition.

    Eminent Nigerians witnessed the ceremony in Calabar, the state capital. The senator fromAdamawa South District, Mrs. Grace Bent, drummed support for the governor’s wife. She also extolled her virtues, urging the district to give her a trial. Bent said that, if she could succeed as a politician in Adamawa State , the birthplace of her husband, Mrs. Imoke can also succeed in Cross River State.

    However, Governor Imoke clarified that his priority was not political ambition. He said he would focus on his present duties as the governor.

    In the Central District, the governor’s senatorial bid is the talk of the town. When he declares his aspiration, he will have to contend with resistance from Ndoma-Egba and the House of Representatives member from Obubra/Etung Constituency, Owan-Enoh, and other aspirants from Boki/Ikom and Abi/Yakurr Constituency, which constitute the district.

    Ndoma-Egba is from Ikom. Imoke from Abi and Owan-Enoh from Obubra.

    The aspirants are fortifying their structures. They now visit home regularly. They attend social functions and donate at public functions. Speculations are rife that the governor, who is the party leader, may use his clout to a maximum advantage. The scenario being built by analysts is that the clash of ambition between the governor and Ndoma-Egba may strain their relationship, if it is not properly managed.

    Many groups have endorsed both the governor and senator for the job.

    Observers argue that Ndoma-Egba’s ambition may crumble, if the governor deploys his arsenal. The critics of the senator want him to allow a fresh blood to make novel contributions on the floor of the National Assembly. But, those supporting Ndoma-Egba argued that the governor should not nurse senatorial ambition again because he had served as a senator before.

    The Senate Leader’s supporters ppoint out that the vantage position, which Ndoma-Egba occupies in the Senate, would be lost, if a new person succeeds him next year.

    Many lawyers in the state are backing Ndona-Egba. The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ikom Branch, has thrown its weight behind Senate leader. Rising from its third general meeting at Obubra, Central District, the body said that the legal luminary is the best man for the job.

    “The Bar pledges its total support for the re-election of Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba to the senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for providing exemplary and good leadership to the nation and for his support, hospitality and commitment toward the success of Ikom branch in promoting the rule of law,” it said.

    Also drumming support for Ndoma-Egba is the Cross River State Legion for Democratic Advancement (CRSLDA). According to the group, a legislator should be assessed by bills sponsored and not the number of motor cycles, vehicles and largesse doled out to constituents.

    Its President, Mr. Leko A Inah, said in a statement that senators who performed below expectations in the National Assembly should not seek for a fresh mandate. He said Ndoma-Egba is not one of them. “Flaunting wealth in the name of human development is not the same thing as enacting development-oriented laws that will spur government into development activities.

    “We in CRSLDA have observed keenly with pride and admiration the contribution of Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, which transcends his senatorial district and the state. We strongly believe that his continued service in the Senate will continue to consolidate the gains of the Fourth Republic.

    “It is on record that Senator Ndoma-Egba has single-handedly sponsored more bills in the Senate. He has sponsored 24 bills that have far-reaching impact on the nation. They represent a tribute to a senator’s career in the Senate because his name is associated with important bills.

    “As we gear up for another the general elections, CRSLDA calls on Cross Riverians and the good people of the Central Senatorial District to count their gains of having a senator with the intellectual capacity of Senator Ndoma-Egba, who the senatorial district must feel hugely proud of to have contributed to the nation.

    ‘’His return to the Senate in 2015 will eloquently illustrate the value of legislative continuity, effective representation and project, not only the Central Senatorial District, but Cross River.”

    However,those backing the governor are growing in leaps and bounds. One of the groups, the Cross River State Political Network (CRISPON), has held a rally in his support.

    The group’s leader, Michael Abuo, has forwarded “a letter of adoption and request” to Imoke, urging him to publicly declare his interest. He said Imoke’s return to the Upper Chamber will put the the senatorial district on the front burner..

    IThe letter reads in part: “On February 22, 2014, members of CRISPON from the Central District met at our secretariat and resolved that you should contest the 2015 senatorial election.

    “As a unifying factor and experienced personality, the district needs you now than ever. Your experience and person is in dire need for the advancement of our region and state at this very critical moment of our fledging democracy. We need you, our people need you.

    “Your Excellency and the good people of Cross River State, members of the Cross River State Political Network (CRISPON) from the Central District are calling on our dear performing, amiable governor and leader, Senator Liyel Imoke, to run.

    “Having seen your leadership qualities in the following political capacities, which you have done reasonably well, as a senator, special adviser to the President, minister and governor, we are optimistic that having you in the Senate will revive and reinvigorate our senatorial district, the state, and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and consolidate democracy and good governance in Cross River State and Nigeria.

    “Sir, be assured of our absolute loyalty and support at all times. We have unanimously adopted you and we are calling on the entire state and the people of the Central District that have offered us their son to serve the entire state so well to give him a chance in the Senate.”

    Owan-Enoh is not left in the cold too. He has been endorsed by some groups. One of the groups is the ‘Mandator Group’. Its Chairman, Etaba Okpa, the former Vice Chairman of Obubra Local Government Council, has led a delegation to the PDP Chairman, John Okon, to drum support for his candidature. Noting that Ndoma-Egba has dome well in the Senate, Okpa said that Enoh will do better. He also said that it i reasonable that the Senate Leader should bow out after completing three terms.

    Okpa added: “We have looked at the entire Central Senatorial District and we have ex-rayed the quality of our representatives; we have looked at our amiable leader of the sSnate, Senator Victor Ndoma- Egba. He has done so well. In fact, there is no way you can mention three senators in the Senate without mentioning Victor Ndoma-Ebga. He has done extremely well and our thinking is that, for a man that has done so well, we need to encourage him, he needs a pat on his back to move forward.

    “Gone are the days when we sit down in Cross River and run down our leaders. The Mandator Group has a simple answer to this issue. Ndoma-Egba needs to move forward. We are not ready to bring down anybody. We are ready to move those that has done well forward. We have also looked at his activities and we discovered that he has been elected three times. If you remain too long in the toilet, there is the tendency that you will be seeing demons. And because we love him, we will not want our senator to see demons.

    “We want a situation where those that have served well in a particular position should move ahead. There are a whole lot of vacancies up there. Based on the relationship that our senator has with the President, he can become the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice from Cross River State.

    “We have also looked at our House of Representarives members. We have three of them and we discovered that, for the position of the Senate, the Abi/Yakurr Constituency has enjoyed that position very well. Boki/Ikom is still enjoying that position and the only federal constituecy that has not enjoyed it is the Obubra /Etung Constituency. So, we are thinking that there is a man that is asking the hand of the Senate in marriage. His name is John Owan Enoh”.

    The PDP Chairman, Okon, said that the aspirants will test their popularity at the primaries. He added: “There will be no foul play and shifting of the goalpost. Here, we give all the support to all our candidates. Let me assure you that we will give all our candidates a level playing ground.”

    But, when the big masquerades invade the playground, would there be a level playing ground?

     

  • Epic battle in Kwara PDP

    Epic battle in Kwara PDP

    The defection of the former Governor of Kwara State, Dr. Bukola Saraki, and his supporters from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), has left a big vacuum in the Kwara PDP, with some of its stakeholders currently embroiled in a fierce battle for relevance. Assistant Editor, Remi Adelowo, reports the scenario playing out and other developments in the state politics

    The Kwara State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is still reeling from the shock of the defection of the former state governor, Dr. Bukola Saraki,  to the main opposition party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    On the heels of Saraki’s defection was the decision of state governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed, two senators, all members of the House of Representatives – all PDP members (except one) in the state House of Assembly, the 18 local government chairmen and over a 100 councilors in the state – to join APC in solidarity with the former governor who currently represents Kwara Central in the Senate.

    Widely acclaimed as the political leader of the state, Saraki’s exit from the PDP has expectedly created a void in the PDP, according to sources within the party.

    The Nation gathered that while the Kwara PDP still boasts of prominent stakeholders, including the Chairman of the Federal Character Commission (FCC), Prof. Abdulrahman Oba; former Minister of Transport, Ibrahim Bio; Senator representing Kwara South, Simeon Ajibola, and Senator Gbemi Saraki, as members, a leadership tussle has ensued amongst these stakeholders over who takes charge of the party in the state.

    An indication that all was not well with the party came to the fore last week during the formal return of Gbemi Saraki, the younger sister of Bukola Saraki, to the PDP from the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN) on which platform she contested the 2011 governorship election.

    Sources revealed that in spite of the invitation extended to other stakeholders of the party, including Oba, Bio and Ajibola, they were conspicuously absent, a development not unconnected to the brewing battle for supremacy and the control of the party in the state.

    Long before Gbemi Saraki returned to the PDP, there had been a silent but fierce battle among Oba, Bio and Ajibola for the soul of the party with all efforts to achieve a consensus allegedly spurned by the key stakeholders.

    To stem the ugly tide, the national leadership of the party, then led by Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, inaugurated an interim executive headed by a former member of the House of Representatives from Delta State, Hon. Solomon Edoja, with Alhaji Jubril Bala Jos as Secretary to run the affairs of the party in the state.

    Sources revealed that the infighting in the party may not end anytime soon, as Gbemi Saraki, Bio and Oba in the crisis are allegedly working behind the scene to win the party’s governorship ticket for the 2015 general elections.

    While this crisis remains unresolved, The Nation gathered that both the national leadership of the party and the presidency are working on the option of picking the party’s 2015 governorship candidate from the Central Senatorial Zone, which controls 55 percent of the state’s voting population since the incumbent governor, who is likely to be nominated for a second term in office by the APC comes from the South Senatorial zone.

    This permutation leaves Oba and Gbemi Saraki in contention for the party’s ticket since Bio hails from Kwara North, a zone that last produced the governor from 1999 to 1993 in the person of Alhaji Shaaba Lafiagi, who is the incumbent senator representing the zone at the National Assembly.

    Bukola, Gbemi Saraki feud deepens

    Against all expectations that the death of the patriarch of Kwara politics, Dr. Olusola Saraki, could be the catalyst for reconciliation between his warring children, Bukola and Gbemi Saraki, The Nation learnt that the feud has further deepened despite the intervention of some influential Nigerians.

    Gbemi’s formal return to the PDP some days ago at a rally which was also attended by her younger siblings, Laolu and Tope Edu, gave the clearest indication that the centre could no longer hold within the Saraki family.

    But sources in the state revealed that the gang-up by Gbemi and her siblings rather than diminish Bukola Saraki’s political standing has further shored up his image in the state.

    Even among PDP members in the state, questions are being asked as to the intention of Gbemi in painting the picture of a gang-up against her elder brother, with not a few doubting the trio’s capacity to challenge the leadership of their brother in the state politics.

    Credible sources claim that shortly after Dr. Olusola Saraki passed on, a billionaire industrialist made efforts to broker a truce between Bukola and Gbemi to no avail.

    During one of such meetings, the businessman was alleged to have impressed it on Gbemi to make peace with her brother, which he claimed was one of the unfulfilled wishes of their father. But the former senator in her response was alleged to have said that her rift with her brother was more of personal than political differences.

    Why Ajibola remains in PDP

    The refusal of the Senator representing Kwara South, Simeon Ajibola, to defect to the APC along with the majority of former PDP members, led by Bukola Saraki, has not ceased to confound watchers of Kwara politics.

    Ajibola’s decision to ditch Saraki might not be unconnected to feelers that he may not be fielded for another term in the Senate following his fall-out with some influential stakeholders in his senatorial district over his alleged unsatisfactory performance.

    Ajibola, it was gathered, had also read the body language of Saraki, who was said to have bowed to pressure not to support Ajibola’s re-election in 2015.

    Belgore’s defection to PDP

    A few days ago, the former governorship candidate of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Kwara State, Mr. Dele Belgore, defected from the APC to PDP in a move that did not come to many as a surprise.

    His move to the ruling party, sources alleged, was premised on the offer of the 2015 governorship ticket made to him by key presidency officials and national officers of the party.

    Belgore’s move to the PDP has fuelled speculations that the powers-that-be may have opted to pick the party’s 2015 governorship candidate from Kwara Central, the largest voting bloc in the state as against the APC, which is likely to nominate the incumbent governor who hails from Kwara South.

    But the big posers are: will the old PDP members in the state, some of whom are also interested in unseating the incumbent governor, support the alleged governorship aspiration of Belgore in 2015? Will Belgore also not be seen as an interloper by old PDP members just as he labelled Saraki?

    The likely scenario in the politics of Kwara State in the run-down to the 2015 general elections sure portends an interesting spectacle.