The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Governor-elect

Faleke to tribunal: declare me Kogi governor-elect
•Wants order that the Nov. 21 polls was conclusive
•Seeks withdrawal of Bello’s Certificate of Return

The running mate to the late Abubakar Audu, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the November 21 governorship poll in Kogi State has asked the Election Petitions Tribunal to declare him governor-elect.

In documents filed before the tribunal by his counsel, Hon. James Abiodun Faleke is seeking 12 reliefs, including four orders compelling the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to reverse itself on several decisions concerning the November 21 polls as from the day Audu died.

Among the reliefs being sought is a declaration that the election to the office of governor of Kogi State of November 21 was valid and that he should be presented with a Certificate of Return as the lawful winner of the election.

Faleke argued that the supplementary election of December 5, upon which Alhaji Yahaya Bello was declared as governor-elect, was unnecessary. He argued that Bello was not qualified to contest in the first place.

In the petition which he submitted to the clerk of the tribunal at about 12.20 p.m. in Lokoja on Monday, accompanied by Mohammed Audu, son of the late Audu, Faleke listed INEC and Bello as first and second respondents respectively.

He said: “The second respondent, who did not register as a voter, who did not vote at the election, who did not present himself to the electorate for votes at the election, who did not participate as a candidate at the election of November 21, 2015 and who did not nominate another candidate as his associate for his running for the office of governor, who is to occupy the office of deputy governor was declared the winner of the election by the first respondent on December 5, 2015.”

With 25 documents attached in support, Faleke listed two grounds for his petition; the second respondent was, at the time of the election, not qualified to contest, and was not duly elected by the majority of lawful votes cast at the election.

Faleke also observed that INEC “did not publish any list of candidates who purportedly participated at the supplementary election held on December 5, 2015”.

He said Yahahya Bello scored only 6,885 votes at the supplementary election held on December 5, far less than the 240,867 votes he (Faleke) and Audu got on November 21.

Faleke added that INEC added the scores of Dec. 5, to the one of Nov. 21 to get the 247, 752 “which it eventually announced before wrongly and unduly returning the secomd respondent as the winner of the election.”

He continued: “The second respondent did not register as a voter in his ward and/or at all for the governorship election in Kogi State. He did not nominate or submit to INEC any candidate as his associate for his running for the office of Governor of Kogi State as mandated by the Constitution.”

Faleke also noted that Form CF002B (ii) submitted by Bello to INEC “on or about November 27, 2015 has no deputy governorship candidate who was to contest along with him.”

He said he protested INEC’s decision to declare the November 21 election as inconclusive and also informed the first respondent in writing that he was not running, “and would not run, contest or participate in the supplementary election of December 5, 2015 as the associate or deputy governorship candidate of the second respondent.”

He is seeking that it may be determined and thus declared by the tribunal:
1. That election to the office of Governor of Kogi State was already conducted, completed and concluded by the 1st respondent on November 21, 2015.
2. That the 1st respondent’s decision and proclamation that the governorship election held in Kogi State on November 21, 2015 was/is inconclusive, are unconstitutional, illegal, unlawful, arbitrary, null and void, and ultra vires the powers of INEC.
III. That the 1st respondent was under a duty to declare and pronounce the winner of the concluded governorship election of Kogi State held on November 21, 2015 and make a return accordingly.
1. That upon the death of Prince Abubakar Audu before taking the oath of allegiance and oath of office, the petitioner who was elected with him as Deputy Governor should be sworn in as Governor of Kogi State.
2. That the 2nd respondent was at the time of the election to the office of Governor of Kogi State on November 21, 2015, not qualified to contest the election.
3. That the 2nd respondent was not qualified to contest the office of Governor of Kogi State on December 5, 2015.
VII. That the second respondent was not elected as Governor of Kogi State by majority of lawful votes cast.

VIII. That the return of the 2nd respondent by the 1st respondent on December 5, 2015 is unconstitutional, illegal, unlawful, undemocratic, arbitrary, null and void, and also ultra vires the powers of INEC
1. An order setting aside the 1st respondent’s decision and declaration that the governorship election held in Kogi State on November 21, 2015 is inconclusive.
2. An order setting aside the Certificate of Return issued by the 1st respondent to the 2nd respondent and dated December 7, 2015.
3. An order mandating/directing the 1st respondent to issue forthwith, to the petitioner, a Certificate of Return as the person duly elected as Governor of Kogi State pursuant to the election held on November 21, 2015.
XII. An order of injunction restraining the 2nd respondent from:

(a) Parading, representing or holding himself out as the Governor-elect

(b) Parading himself as Governor of Kogi State based on the Certificate of Return issued to him by the 1st respondent and dated December 7, 2015.

On Monday, Faleke told reporters that he was confident justice would be done in the matter and that he did not join his party, the APC as a respondent in the suit.
December 23, 2015
Kogi governor-elect urges panel to ensure smooth take-off

Kogi State Governor-elect Yahaya Adoza Bello has urged the transition committee to chart a course to engender a smooth take-off of his administration on January 27.

Bello, who addressed the committee, led by Alhaji Isah Shaibu, said the committee should consider the experiences of the 24-year-old state.

He said: “Kogi State is endowed with natural and human resources, which puts it at an advantage, in addition to being close to the Federal Capital Territory. With the presence of Obajana Cement Factory, Ajaokuta Steel Company as well as Itakpe Iron Ore, our state could not have been asking for more as far as industrial and economic aspirations are concerned.

“These resources and industries should place our state among the top five in the federation. Sadly, due to the leadership gap we have experienced over the years, the reverse is the case, as our social and infrastructural development indices leave much to be desired, although we are ranked 18th in terms of monthly federal allocations. This, to say the least, is unacceptable.

“Against this background, we must take advantage of the blessings bestowed on us by rededicating ourselves to surmounting the challenges ahead. In the next few weeks, I expect this committee to come up with a framework to enable our administration take off.

“You will need to think outside the box by coming up with workable and realistic plans for the smooth take off of the new administration, bearing in mind today’s economic realities.”

The governor-elect enjoined the committee to address key sectors, “including education, health, job creation and youth empowerment, agriculture and rural development, solid minerals and infrastructural growth as well as civil service reforms for efficiency, enhanced productivity and a reward for service.

“These can only be achieved by looking inwards with the objective of improving our Internally-Generated Revenue (IGR) within the shortest time.”

He assured that his administration “will be committed to the responsibilities that God has placed on our shoulders.

“Given your antecedents, you will no doubt deliver on this assignment, as you can be rest assured of my commitment to the realisation of our collective vision.”

Other members of the committee are: Edward Onoja (secretary); Hajia Zainab Abdulazeez; Prof. Olu Akerejola; Hajia Khadijat Suleiman; Alhaji Ohinoyi Shaban; Alhaji Suleiman Baba Ali; Mr. Idris Sura; Dr. Atte David; Idris Haruna; Hajia Halima Alfa; Dr. Yakubu Ugwalawo; Mumuni Okara; and Dr. Martin Makoju.

December 21, 2015
Governor-elect can’t be deputy governorship candidate, says Faleke

Deputy Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the November 21 Kogi governorship election Hon. James Abiodun Faleke again yesterday declined to run with Alhaji Yahaya Bello in Saturday’s supplementary election.

Speaking at the party’s secretariat in Abuja, he said: “The issue of Kogi state was paramount in the minds of national leaders and they wanted a solution to it.

“However, we met for about two hours as you have observed and we discovered that the meeting that we were invited for was just a mere briefing rather than it being where we could have deliberated and solved the quagmire we find ourselves in. We were only briefed about the position of the party.

“The party told us that it had nominated Alhaji Yahaya Bello and of course, we made it clear that as the political family of Prince Abubakar Audu, because it is not acceptable and we are not going with it.

“I personally observed that my name has been submitted to INEC as deputy governorship candidate to pair with Alhaji Yahaya Bello and I told the National Chairman clearly and in clear words, that I have submitted a letter this morning distancing myself from that decision and that on no ground will I want to be associated with the decision of the party to pair me with Alhaji Yahaya Bello because I am already governor-elect.

“I also told him, Mr. Chairman for us as a family, Kogi state political family, we are not taking part in that election and my name cannot be submitted because I was not even consulted in the first instance. The Governor-elect cannot become another deputy governorship candidate.

“I want to make it very clear that Alhaji Yahaya Bello did not take part in all our campaign process and we are only contesting election in 91 polling units out 2,548 or there about polling units and we have made it very clear that if they go ahead to conduct election because I have pulled out, that election would be challenged in the court of law, it will be null and void.

“We won’t be addressing you today if the party had followed the path of honour we championed there is for the party to go to court and challenge INEC and Mr. Chairman told us directly right away without considering it twice that the party will not go to court and since the party is not going to court, we have taken it upon ourselves to defend ourselves in court and we are challenging the decision”.

Faleke was at the briefing with Mohammed Audu, first son of the late Audu, former Minister, Humphery Abba and a former Commissioner in Audu’s executive during his previous tenure, Halima Alfa.

December 1, 2015
Faleke to INEC: declare me Kogi State governor-elect

THE running mate to the late Prince Abubakar Audu in last Saturday’s governorship election in Kogi State, James Abiodun Faleke, yesterday asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to declare him winner of the poll.

Faleke also described as not only “unconstitutional” but “misleading”  INEC’s directive to his party – the All Progressives Congress (INEC) – to conduct a fresh primary to nominate Audu’s replacement in the supplementary election billed for December 5.

In separate letters from his counsel Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) Chambers to INEC and the APC, Faleke said the electoral umpire erred by declaring the November 21 election inconclusive after the emergence of a clear winner.

The letters were addressed to Prof Mahmood Yakubu and Chief John Odigie-Oyegun in their capacities as chairmen of INEC and APC.

Faleke insists that INEC usurped the functions of an election petitions tribunal by declaring the poll inconclusive and scheduling a supplementary election.

According to him, the electoral agency would be prompting an avoidable judicial crisis by asking the APC to produce another candidate to inherit the votes already counted in favour of the Audu/Faleke ticket.

Describing the December 5 supplementary election as illegal, Faleke urged INEC to declare him the winner of the November 21 election and in the event of the APC heeding INEC’s directive, that he be declared the party’s candidate.

Also in the letter to Odigie-Oyegun, Faleke reminded the APC that it was outside INEC’s jurisdiction to compel it to stage another primary after the conclusion of an election.

He said the onus was on the party to support him in actualising the mandate which 240, 867 voters gave to the APC at the ballot to beat Governor Idris Wada of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who polled 199,514.

The letter reads: “Arising from the foregoing, our client enjoins the APC not only to support him at actualising the mandate already given to the party under the joint ticket of himself and the late Prince Abubakar Audu, but also distance itself from the ‘Greek Gift’ offer being made by INEC, to wit, that is allowing the APC to conduct a fresh primary election to nominate a candidate for a supplementary election in 91 polling units, where only about 25,000 PVCs (Permanent Voter Cards) is already leading, by the announced results, with over 40,000 votes.

“In parenthesis, we urge the APC, under your able leadership, to speadily look into and act on our client’s position as stipulated in this letter.”

Explaining that INEC had no justification to have declared the election inconclusive, the letter said: “We dare say that the reasons given by INEC are alien to the Constitution and, therefore, unconstitutional. Cancellation of election results by INEC cannot be a ground for declaring any election as inconclusive.

“INEC also has no constitutional or legal power to order the APC to go and conduct a fresh primary election to nominate a candidate for an already concluded election. INEC is advertently and inadvertently instigating a political and legal conundrum, which the APC as a party should distance itself from.

“What the APC should do and insist on is to ask INEC to obey and comply with the letters, spirit, intention and tenor of the Constitution, by not only declaring APC as the winner of the election, but by also declaring our client as the governor-elect. Precedent abounds for this proposition and position or our client.

“In law and logic, no new candidate can inherit or be a beneficiary of the votes already cast, counted and declared by INEC before that candidate was nominated and purportedly sponsored.

“Assuming without conceding that INEC is even right to order a supplementary election, the votes already cast, counted and declared on Saturday, 25th November, 2015 were votes for the joint constitutional ticket of Prince Abubakar Audu and our client. Therefore, no new or supplementary candidate can hijack, aggregate, appropriate or inherit the said votes.

“Assuming further, without conceding, that supplementary election in 91 polling units can hold as being suggested by INEC, it is our client who should be the automatic candidate of the party, since APC cannot conduct ‘supplementary primary election’ for the supplementary election in 91 polling units.”

Lacing up his argument with relevant laws, he said: “Under Section 61(c) of the Electoral Act 2010, once a Returning Officer announces or declares the result of an election, his declaration is final, and can only be reviewed or upturned by an Election Tribunal.

“In other words, the scores already announced for APC remain final and binding. Section 181(1) of the Constitution again comes into play under the present circumstances, vis-à-vis the death of Prince Abubakar Audu.

“The section is all-embracing, as it covers all situations and reasons. It mandates, in no unmistakable language, that the deputy governor-elect shall take over and be sworn in. By parity of reasoning, the APC shall be declared as the winner of the election by INEC, while our client is declared as the governor-elect.”

Also in the letter to the INEC chair, Faleke said: “May we draw Mr. Chairman’s attention to the clear and mandatory provision of Section 68(1)( c) of the Electoral Act to the effect that any result declared by Returning Officer shall be final and binding and can only be reviewed or upturned by an Election Tribunal.

“In effect the results already announced by INEC are binding not only on all the parties but also on (INEC) itself.  We want to believe that INEC is not unaware of binding decisions of our appellate courts on his issue.

“Furthermore by the provision of Section (18(1) of the Constitution our client who was the deputy governorship candidate or the associate of Prince Abubakar Audu at the already concluded election constitutionally and automatically becomes the governor-elect of the state.

“With much respect INEC has no discretion in this matter.  May we advise most humbly that you should not confuse this situation with what is intended in Section 33 of the Electoral Act because the situation on ground has nothing to do with changing or substitution of the name of a candidate before election.  In fairness to INEC it had already announced the results of the election and as at the time it so did it honestly claimed ignorance of the death of Prince Abubakar Audu.

Mr. Chairman Sir, this is a rather simple and straight forward matter which does not need any delay, foot dragging or procrastination.  It is a constitutional imperative.  Put in another way, INEC has a bounded duty to declare our client as the winner of the election.

“Any attempt to conduct any supplementary election in any unit whatsoever and howsoever will amount to INEC breaching and flouting the Constitution and our client would definitely challenge it.”

November 27, 2015
How I’ll develop Abia, by governor-elect

“Contrary to the impression some people are having about me, I will owe allegiance only to the citizens of the state with whose mandate I will govern the state and not to any other person…The revenue allocation from the Federation Account is on the decline. Therefore, there is the need for us to diversify the economy of the state and look inward so that we will stop depending of federal allocation”

ABIA State governor-elect, Mr. Okezie Ikpeazu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has promised that his administration will be investor sector-driven.

Speaking to reporters in Umuahia, Abia State capital, Ikpeazu noted that “the revenue allocation from the Federation Account is on the decline. Therefore, there is the need for us to diversify the economy of the state and look inwards so that we will stop depending on revenues from the Federation Account.”

He said though he vied for the position of governor of the state, he explained that he was not desperate to become the next governor of the state, adding that there were things he cannot do or be subjected to do because of his quest to be the governor.

He said his promise was to give total allegiance to the people if he became the governor. This, he said, was because they would be the ones to give him their mandate to govern them and not to anyone, contrary to what people are saying.

Ikpeazu said: “Contrary to the impression some people are having about me,

I will owe allegiance only to the citizens of the state with whose mandate I will govern the state and not to any other person.”

The governor-elect expressed his gratitude to the people of Obingwa Local Government Area for giving him bloc vote during the just-concluded governorship and House of Assembly election held on April 11and the supplementary election of April 25, saying that was the first time since the creation of the state a candidate from that area was vying for the position of governor.

“So, my people saw it as an opportunity for their son to become governor of the state. In the past, previous governors had always picked their deputies from Obingwa, Osisioma or Ugwunagbo. This is because of the numerical strength of these areas.

“Since the creation of the state, the area which was formerly known as Obioma Ngwa has always been voting massively for whoever is contesting for the position of governor of the state because of the selection of the deputy from the area.”

On why he received bloc or massive votes from Obingwa Local Government Area, Ikpeazu said politicians should study the political topography of their areas before making comments.

Ikpeazu, who hails from Obingwa Local Government Area received a total of 82,240 votes against APGA’s Alex Otti who received 1, 952 votes. He said his people voted for their son in order to produce the governor for the first time since the creation of the state.

The governor-elect said it was not strange that he received such bloc vote from his people who were having an opportunity of producing the governor of the state for the first time.

May 1, 2015
‘INEC’s option is to declare me governor-elect’

Contrary to plans for a supplementary election in some wards and polling units in Abia State, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, has said that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will encounter a credibility crisis, if it fails to declare him winner of the April 11 governorship election.

Ikpeazu, who polled 248,459 votes against Chief Alex Otti of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) who scored 165,407, said that with 83, 053 votes ahead of Otti, he is already a winner.

He said both the INEC’s Resident Electoral Commission for Abia State, Professor Celina Oko and the Returning Officer, Professor Benjamin Ozumba, did not hide their bias in declaring the Abia governorship election inconclusive where there is a clear winner with wide margin.

In a statement in Umuahia, the state capital, Ikpeazu said: “The case of Abia State governorship election result will definitely raise so much credibility and integrity questions against Professor Jega and INEC. It is unheard of that in an election where the winner has 83,053 votes against loser is declared inconclusive.

“INEC has accepted and announced result from the 17 local government areas of Abia, and I scored 248,459 while Alex Otti got 165,407, which means that Otti has 83,053 votes deficit, instead of declaring me winner, the Resident Electoral Commission for Abia State, Professor Mrs. Celina Oko, who I later got to understand is a relative of Otti, got a willing partner in the person of Professor Ozumba.

“Going from the result already announced and entered into INEC form EC8D, which is summary of results from the 17 local government areas of Abia State, collated at the state level, declared and duly signed by Professor Ozumba, and all the accredited agents of political parties in the state collation centre in Umuahia, including Chief Ahamdi Nweke, of APGA, and Dr. Solomon Ogunji of the PDP, shows I am the winner of the election.”

“In that result, the No. of registered voters is 1,217,632. No. of accredited voters is 470,900, total valid votes is 430,561, rejected votes is 8,893 and total votes cast is 439,454. PDP has 248 ,459, while APGA has 165,406, and I have a margin of 83,053 ahead of Otti, what in earth is preventing INEC from seeing that I have

made 25% of the votes cast in the 2/3 of the local government areas in the state, and scored majority number of votes cast, and by the provision of the constitution he is already a winner.”

Speaking on the call by Otti for the cancelation of result from Obingwa, Dr. Ikpeazu said: “I do not blame Otti because he lacks the knowledge of the voting strength of each local government areas in the state.

“Otti has never bothered to ask why is that since 1999, all the deputy governors that Abia has had are either from Obingwa, Osisioma or Ugwunagbo local government areas, and these three LGAs formed the former Obioma Ngwa Local government. These are the most populated LGAs in Abia. And the three LGAs are political active.

“Again Obingwa and Osisioma has alway produced the highest number of votes in the electoral history of Abia. Otti does not know, and I do not expect him to because he is a stranger in Abia politics.

“If Otti is aware of the voting pattern of Abia, he would not have chosen a deputy from his Federal Constituency in Abia North. There are three senatorial district in Abia, instead of Otti who is from Abia north to chose a deputy from Abia South in other to get votes from there, he went and chose his sister from Ohafia in the same Abia North as his running mate, how does he expect people from Abia south, and central to vote him? He is simply exposing his political naïvety.

“Again, Otti failed to understand that the Ukwa/ngwa people have never been governor since the history of the world, and this is the closer we have come to it. So our people trooped out in their number to vote me from Isialangwa to Ukwa.

“Again during the presidential election, Obingwa also pulled the highest number votes, so there is no basis for otti’s allegation. It is unfortunate his desperation has pushed him too far that he don’t even know when to stop.”

In a related development, the Abia State chatter of the PDP has written Jega, demanding immediately declaration of Ikpeazu as the governor-elect of the state.

In a letter titled: “Okezie Ikpeazu: winner of Abia governorship race” signed by the state PDP chairman, Senator Emma Nwaka, the party describes the decision of INEC in Abia as a charade, stressing that it can’t fathom the basis for not declaring Ikpeazu.

“We are constrain to call your attention to the charade going on in Abia State chapter of your commission under Professor Selina Oko. Under her watch, Professor Benjamin Ozumba as Returning Officer for the governorship election declared the election inconclusive contrary to every available evidence. It is difficult to fathom the basis on which the Returning Officer instead of declaring Ikpeazu of PDP the winner of the Abia governorship election, opted to declare it inconclusive.”

Citing various relevant provisions of the constitution and the Electoral Act, the Abia PDP said: “INEC is left with no option than to declare Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu winner of the 2015. It is to be noted that the number of registered voters is irrelevant in the determination of the person who is duly elected at the close of polls.”

“However, if INEC, of any reason insists on the rerun, PDP will insist that the Resident Electoral Commission, Professor Selina Oko, and Professor Benjamin Ozumba, the Returning Officer both whom have clearly demonstrated their bais against the winner be dropped from the exercise.”

April 22, 2015
Governor-elect pledges good governance

overnor-elect Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi described his victory as an act of God. He promised the people good governance, saying he would bring his experience as a former insurance executive and a member of the House of Assembly to bear on the job.

He spoke on Tuesday, at his campaign headquarter, while giving his acceptance speech after being declared winner of the election.

THe paid tributes to those that supported his “march” to the Lion Building, Enugu.

They include Governor Sullivan Chime, Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, former Senate President Ken Nnamani; former governor of old Anambra State Jim Nwobodo and former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Okwesilieze Nwodo.

Ugwuanyi, who also extended a hand of fellowship to the opposition said: “The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), on Sunday, April 12, 2015, announced my humble self as the winner of the April 11, 2015 governorship election in Enugu State. The result showed that an overwhelming majority of the voters elected me as the next Governor of Enugu State. From all the 17 local government areas, the people spoke eloquently with their votes and entrusted in me the responsibility of rendering selfless service to our dear state.

I am deeply humbled by that mandate reposed in me and I hereby accept it with all sense of humility and gratitude.

“Therefore, this is the day the Lord has made. We all rejoice and are glad in it. It is the Lord’s doing and it is marvelous in our eyes. I am grateful to Him who makes kings, raises the common man from the dust, lifts the needy from the ash heap and makes them to sit with the nobles of the land. This victory, indeed, belongs to God.

“Ndi Enugu, on behalf of my running mate and your Deputy Governor-elect, Hon. (Mrs.) Cecilia Ezeilo, I want to tender my heartfelt gratitude to you. I salute the commitment and sacrifice of the ordinary Enugu men and women both at home and in the Diaspora towards the actualisation of this victory.

“In particular, I pay special tribute to the people’s Governor, the political enigma of our time, God’s gift to Enugu State, His Excellency, Sullivan Iheanacho Chime, the Leader of our Party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Enugu State, for his great and heroic roles in making this feat possible.”

Continuing, Hon. Ugwuanyi also appreciated the support of members of the National Assembly from Enugu State under the leadership of the Deputy President of the Senate, His Excellency, Senator Ike Ekweremadu (CFR), Ikeoha Ndigbo.

He said: “I am equally grateful to our respected elder statesmen, the former Senate President, His Excellency, Senator Ken Nnamani (GCON); former Governors, His Excellency, Senator Jim Ifeanyichukwu Nwobodo, His Excellency, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, His Excellency, Senator Chimaroke Nnamani, His Excellency, Admiral Allison Madueke (rtd) and His Excellency Anthony Oguguo, among others for their support and encouragement.

“I salute our party men and women, especially its leadership at the national, state and local government levels. I also recognise the untiring efforts of the support groups.

“I am happy that you have resoundingly chosen me as your next Governor. But for me, it is even more important and heart-warming that my election has been widely acknowledged as transparent and credible, devoid of any moral burden or legitimacy crisis. In this regard, the INEC should be commended for conducting free and fair polls. I also wish to appreciate our security agencies and other related bodies for ensuring peace and security.

He said his election as the next governor of Enugu State wouldn’t have been possible without the electorate who he said defied rain and sunshine to ensure that their votes counted. He described them as the true heroes of democracy, even as he assured them of reward, which he said will be in form of good governance.

Ndi Enugu, this is your victory. Democracy only qualifies to be seen as the government of the people, by the people, and for the people when the electorate holds the sole franchise to making and dethroning their leaders. So, in electing me, you have confirmed the acceptance of the proposals we offered during the campaign season.

Once again, I re-commit myself to all our campaign promises in the 17 local government areas. I renew the message of peace, hope and development of our dear state, and to the principles of seamless continuity and consolidation. Government is a continuum. And when a people are lucky to have been blessed with a leader with foresight who has laid a solid foundation for the socio-economic development of our state within the last eight years, it is only rational to continue and consolidate that vision.

“He Said: “I promise to reaffirm my commitment to seeing through the legacy of the present four-point agenda, namely physical infrastructure, economic expansion and employment, rural development and service delivery and to usher in the new four-point agenda namely; employment generation, social services and good governance, rural development, security and justice, both running concurrently.

To those who contested with him both in the party primaries and general election, he appealed to them to join hands with him in moving the state forward because, he said, “there is great work to be done.”

April 17, 2015
I’ll ensure economic independence, says Niger governor-elect

Niger State Governor-elect Abubakar Sani Bello pledged yesterday to ensure economic independence from the Federation Account allocation, by harnessing the state’s human and natural resources.

He urged the people to be realistic in their demand from the government, considering its economic position, following the global collapse of the price of crude oil.

Bello, who delivered his acceptance speech in Minna after he was declared the winner of last Saturday’s election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), said: “Niger State cannot afford to continue to rely on allocation from the Federation Account and related sources for up to 80 per cent of its income.

“My administration’s priority is to pursue a strategic direction aimed at harnessing the abundant human and natural resources of the state, to ensure its independence from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) allocation. The indigenes will be part and parcel of our decision-making process.

“We pledge to begin doing our best without delay. We appeal to the people to appreciate the gravity of the national austerity occasioned by the global collapse in the price of crude oil. This is having an impact on the state’s revenue. We need to become realistic in our expectations. This is your government and it will soon be at your service.”

The governor-elect promised an all-inclusive administration, especially in decision-making, saying he would serve diligently and that his administration would be just and equitable.

He hailed the fighting spirit of his major opponent, the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP’s) candidate, Umar Nasko and praised Governor Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, saying he looked forward to meeting him to discuss how to put in place a transition programme.

The APC leader and Deputy Governor Ahmed Musa Ibeto attributed his party’s electoral success to God. Said he: “Without God, it would have been difficult to defeat a sitting party.”

April 15, 2015
Governor-elect is ignorant of the law, says party

THE Ekiti State All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused Dr. Ayodele Fayose of either being ignorant of the law governing electoral matters or deliberately being economical with the truth.

Its Director of Publicity and Media, Segun Dipe, urged Fayose to always consult his legal advisers before making any statement that would characterise him not only as legally deficient, but a desperado.

The statement reads: “Rather than baring facts, our governor-elect is baring fangs. Rather than applying brain and wisdom, he is applying the brawn, which he is known for.

“If Fayose is not ignorant of the law or opting for deliberate falsehood, he would not embark on campaign of calumny against those who have chosen to embark on the path laid down in both the 1999 Constitution and Electoral Law 2006 in ensuring that justice is not only done but seen as done.

“One would have thought that Fayose’s many legal advisers would have drawn his attention to Section 182 (1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 or Section 145 (1) of the Electoral Act 2006 and he should base his defence on those, instead of calling out thugs against the dictates of statute.

“You cannot build something on nothing. A house molded with spittle cannot last as it will be brought down by the dew. Equity follows the law and he who comes to equity must come with clean hands.

“If our governor-elect is wise enough, he should see the legal hurdles ahead of him as a stepping stone to legitimise his claim to victory. But he and his wise men want to approbate and reprobate at the same time. This is democracy. You can only become a state governor through legal means, not through illegal means.

“It is not only legitimate but appropriate that an election victory could be questioned on the grounds that a person whose election is questioned was at the time of election not qualified to contest the election.

“We would therefore advise Fayose to seek the path of honour and not that of dishonour in getting to power. History awaits him on whatever steps he is taking right now to get to power. If anyone is haunting him, it is the law of the land and not our party.

“Our choice to question his legitimacy is not only because we are in the opposition party, but because we are also bona fide citizens of Nigeria and indigenes of Ekiti, which he intends to govern.”

September 25, 2014
Governor-elect heads for appeal

THE ruling of a high court in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State capital, which claimed competence to try Ekiti State governor-elect Mr. Ayodele Fayose’s ‘eligibility’ case instituted by E-11, has been appealed.

E-11, a socio-political group, in May 2014, in a suit filed by the Citizens Popular Party (CPP) and Adeniyi Ajakaye, claimed that Fayose was ineligible to either stand for an elective post or be voted for.

The group averred that the grounds upon which he was impeached by the Ekiti State Assembly in 2006 had not been nullified by a competent court.

Justice Isaac Ogunyemi of the High Court had in the ruling assumed jurisdictional powers to hear the case and try Fayose on his qualification to stand for the June 21 governorship election.

The judge had dismissed the application challenging the competence of the court to try the case, insisting that the defence counsels, led by Ahmed Raji (SAN), had not judiciously discharged the responsibility under the law of evidence to furnish the court with sufficient evidence upon which the claim of the court’s incompetence by the defence could be sustained.

In the appeal suit number HAD/51/2014 and deposed to by his lead counsel, Ahmed Raji (SAN), Fayose contended that Justice Ogunyemi misdirected himself in the ruling that the court had the powers to sit on the case.

Joined in the suit were Mr. Adeniyi Ajakaiye, Mr. Olufemi Ajayi, Peoples Democratic Party and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Raji maintained the trial judge was wrong under the law to have assumed that the matter had become functus officio and thus could not set aside its own earlier ruling.

Fayose then sought an order setting aside the order of the lower court delivered on the June 6, 2014, abridging the time within which the appellant was to file and serve a counter-affidavit to the originating summons in the action.

He also sought an order setting aside the ruling of the high court delivered on Monday, 22 September by Justice Ogunyemi in respect of the case; an order extending time within which the appellants might file their counter-affidavits; and other processes as appertain in the case at the lower court.

September 25, 2014