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Tag: House of Reps

  • House of Reps candidate alleges threat to life

    The House of Representatives candidate for Ughelli North, South and Udu Federal Constituency in Delta State, Rev. Francis Waive, has called on the Inspector General of Police (IG), Ibrahim Idris, to investigate and prosecute a party chieftain, Julius Akpovoka, for alleged threats to his life, forgery and theft of his documents.

    Waive is contesting on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    In a petition to the IG, Waive claimed that Akpovoka was responsible for the theft of his Expression of Interest Forms and documents from the APC National Headquarters prior to his screening for the primaries. Akpovoka contested for same position in the October primaries.

    Also petitioned is Mr. Awharenovwe Andrew, who is accused of impersonation.

    Waive called on the IG to intervene before the suspects made good their threats on his life. He noted that their actions was a criminal offence, “punishable with life imprisonment under Section 390 (1) of the Criminal Code Act CAP, C38 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria”.

    The petition said no letter or court affidavit of withdrawal was written or sworn to by Waive, indicating loss of interest for the political position.

    The petition reads: “Our client, who won the APC primary election for the Federal House of Representative, did not come this far only to resign now. Our client was in his hometown in Obi-Ayagha, Delta State, from Ocotber 24 to 26; he has no intention whatsoever to withdraw his candidacy on whatever ground.

    “The conduct of Mr. Julius Efeni Akpovoka is despicable, reprehensible, condemnable and treacherous. It is an offence to commit forgery, it is even worse off to threaten the life of the victim.

    “Mr. Akpovoka has threatened to kill our client many times. The threat to his life is serious and our client is afraid and traumatised by these repeated threats. The likes of Messrs. Akpovoka and Awharenovwe Andrew should be made to know that crimes of this nature are serious offences under the Nigerian law, with severe punishments.”

    But Akpovoka denied the allegations of forgery, impersonation, theft, threat to life, brought against him. He gave a 48-hour deadline to Waive to retract the allegations or face legal action.

    According to him, it is Waive who should be prosecuted for forgery over the variation in his names.

    He insisted he won the October primaries but his name was replaced with Waive’s, saying he is in the process of reclaiming his mandate through the court.

    He said: “It is Waive who should be prosecuted for forgery over the inconsistency in his names in documents he submitted to the party, including his results and NYSC certificates.

    “Though I would not want to comment on the legal intricacies of the matter, since it is in the court, I want to debunk his claims that I forged his letter of withdrawal from the race, when he was the one who personally submitted the letter at the party’s headquarters in Abuja.

    “There are also reports that he collected money from a candidate for the same position from another party, and voluntarily withdrew from the race because he knew he would not win. I did not at any place and time, tell APC faithful that Waive would not be screened because I am not part of the screening committee, neither did I mobilise thugs to disrupt the October primaries, though my name was substituted with his name. And that is why I am seeking redress in court.

    “Based on this, I give him 48 hours to retract the publication which I believe is an attempt to bring my name to repute, failure of which my lawyer would take legal steps against him.”

  • APC, PDP suffer more defections in House of Reps

    •Amosun’s man Akinlade joins APM

    Three members of the caucus of the All Progressives Congress (APC) defected from the party yesterday.

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) also lost one member to the Social Democratic Party (SDP) but gained another from APC.

    The lawmakers, in their individual letters to Speaker Yakubu Dogara, said their defection from their former parties was due to irreconcilable differences that included high handedness and unacceptable primaries.

    They also said their decision was in due consultations with their constituents.

    Read also: House should recall APC lawmakers, says Eyibo

    The defected APC members are: Adekunle Akinlade (Ogun), for Allied Peoples Movement (APM); Muhammed Ajanah (Kogi), for the PDP, while Salish Koko (Kebbi) left for SDP.

    Rabiu Kaugama (Jigawa) left the PDP for SDP.

    A subtle protest by House Leader Femi Gbajabiamila was drowned in banters and backslapping around the floor.

    Akinlade added a little drama to his defection by handing his APC armband to Gbajabiamila, who later approached the Speaker with it.

    Dogara collected and displayed the armband for his colleagues to see amidst laughter around the floor.

     

  • PDP kicks as APC wins by-election for House of Reps

    Kwara State Governor Abdufatah Ahmed spoke yesterday on last weekend’s by-election.

    He said in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Communications, Dr Muyideen Akorede, that reports from the four local government areas in which elections were held indicated wide-spread harassment, arrests and intimidation of PDP members and supporters by security personnel.

    He praised PDP members and supporters across the federal constituency for standing their ground and defying the threats posed by the security agents by coming out to exercise their franchise at the risk of harm and arrest.

    He said the heightened fear and intimidation orchestrated against PDP members and supporters and abetted by security agents led to voter apathy and poor turnout in the areas that are traditional strong-holds of fhe party.

    Kwara PDP Chairman Kola Shittu also described the election as a charade

    Shittu said some of the concerns raised by the party prior to the conduct of the election, which included alleged importation of thugs and heavy deployment of security personnel later manifested during the poll.

    He lamented that the poll was characterised by ballot box snatching, widespread irregularities and illegal arrest of members of the PDP before and during the election.

    Shittu called for outright cancellation of the election because it fell short of the expectations of the people of the constituency.

    He added that the brazen subversion of the will of the people, which the outcome of the election represented was an indication that the APC- led federal government was not ready to deliver free, fair and credible elections in 2019.

    “The PDP condemns in strong terms the conduct of the by-election and also rejects its outcome, as it does not reflect the will of the people of Ekiti, Oke-Ero, Isin and Irepodun Local Government Areas.

    “The announcement of the candidate of the APC, Raheem Olawuyi, as the winner of the election by the INEC is daylight robbery, subversion of the will of the people and direct assault on the nation’s democracy.

    “Indeed, the election was a contest between the PDP and the security agents, as they both collaborated with the enemies of democracy, APC, to manipulate the electoral process and stole the mandate of the people.”

  • Peaceful session at House of Reps

    All was peaceful yesterday on the first day of resumption from recess, in the House of Representatives.

    A stormy session was expected because of the cross carpeting during the recess especially the defection of Speaker Yakubu Dogara from the majority All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Dogara came into the chamber at 11:38am.

    There was no murmuring, grumbling or any act of discontent. It was unusually solemn, perhaps because of  the honour accorded the late Hon. Funke Adedoyin who died on September 28.

    Proceedings were adjourned till today in honour of the lawmaker who represented Irepodun/Oke-ero/Isin/Ekiti Federal Constituency of Kwara State.

    Listed on this week’s Notice Paper are: A bill for an Act to amend the National Tobacco Control Act, 2015, to address the lacuna that may be easily exploited by tobacco industry in Nigeria and to cure certain defects in the Act, ensure its effective implementation in Nigeria;

    • An Act to establish the National Security Trust Fund, which seeks to provide for the maintenance of a Trust Fund that will cater for the procurement of military security infrastructure and technology for security agencies in Nigeria; and
    • A bill for an ‘Act to provide for the management, administration, operation, regulation and supervision of payment, clearing and settlement systems in Nigeria’

    Others are: a bill for an Act to repeal the Advertising Practitioner’s (Registrations, etc) Act and enact the Advertising Practitioner’s (Registrations, Licensing, etc); and a a bill to establish the Council for Advertising Practitioners as the apex regulatory authority for the Nigerian Advertising profession and practice .

  • Why I want to represent Ikeja at House of Reps- Benson-Awoyinka

    Adetoke Benson-Awoyinka is the Assistant Legal Adviser of the All Progressives Congress in Lagos for the past five years. She tells Adetutu Audu why she wants to represent Ikeja Constituency in the Federal House of Representatives in the coming election.

    HAVING served your party, All Progressives Congress, at the state level, one would have thought you are satisfied, why are you running for a seat in the House of Representatives?

    My service to the party as Assistant Legal Adviser is more sacrificial in my area of expertise as a lawyer. The party executive at the state is the engine room which births the government from the local government, to the state executive and legislatures, all the way to the Presidency. Working as a state officer merely lays a good foundation and serves as a good stepping stone into the heart of politicking. It exposed me to the inner workings of the organisational aspect of politics. At the state you learn to deal with people from all works of life, people relationship and management skills are most important. However, my passion to give back to my people and nation calls for a more challenging responsibility. As a trained lawyer with almost 30years post call experience, where else but to focus on making good and necessary laws in all spheres of life and addressing so many wrongs and loopholes in our constitution.

    Ikeja Federal Constituency, being home to the state capital, is not only strategic but also sensitive as the pacesetter for others in terms of legislation that drives development, education, vocation, enterprises and promotes development. What are you bringing to the table to ensure that this is achievable?

    Indeed Ikeja is very strategic and that is why we need the best brains and the right mindset at the helm of affairs. Ikeja shouldn’t be the place for mediocre ideas. Ikeja in the last few years has been bereft of good representation in the hands of a man who is otherwise saddled with the quest to lead his native people in Kogi State. The issues of Ikeja have been put on the back burner due to “ghost” representation where our Representative had been otherwise engaged in a prolonged battle to win the governorship race in Kogi State.

    As a lawyer, what will be your role on the recognition of the Supreme Court judgment on the administration of the 20 local governments and the 37 LCDAs in the state?

    The issue of Lagos is a very peculiar one. Lagos has been and is the convergence point for Nigerians at large with every tribe of the over 400 ethnic nationalities present therein. Lagos in itself deserves the “Special Status” recognition which Distinguished Senator Oluremi Tinubu raised a bill on a few years ago and which, to the astonishment of all, was shut down in the Senate due to what I would call insensitivity to the burden which Lagos carries on behalf of all Nigerians.

    You have the power to refocus the conversation toward the things that genuinely matter  issues that will be affected by decisions in the next four years. What are your priorities?

    My priorities are clear and certain, and they bother on issues I have discussed earlier, which include majorly, good governance, child labour issues; issues around women and children; brain drain; capital flight in the country, youth unemployment and majorly and not the least, the issue of conferment of “special status” on Lagos.

    What is your view on budget padding in the National Assembly?

    Budget padding in my view is a high level conspiracy to defraud the people of Nigeria between different tiers of government. Citizens saddled with the responsibility of ensuring government gives back to the people are the ones culpable of making sure the cost of governance is alarmingly high and to the detriment of all. It is a conspiracy to defraud; it is over-invoicing and it is punishable under the law. It would want to give the National Assembly the benefit of doubt and put the burden of proof on the Ministries and MDAs. Whatever it is, it is repugnant to natural justice, equity and good conscience.

    In the political arena, voters and the media in particular treat women differently than men. They tend to frame their view of women in more emotional terms rather than based on credentials or policy. What is your view on this?

    I believe every woman is bringing something to the table. I for instance would bring almost three decades of law practice and administrative qualities to the polity. Women in my profession are considered as “Gentlemen of the Bar” and I have never considered myself beneath or in any way inadequate. The idea of women in politics I understand can be very exciting and brings colour to the polity because women can be very passionate about the things they believe in. When a woman sets out on a goal, it is very achievable. Our society is fast changing on the issue of women as we have surpassed expectations in so many regards be it in the board rooms or otherwise. In our homes we are the geniuses through multi-tasking, from housekeeping to facing the everyday challenges of life, society and culture. However, despite the female population in the country, it has not been reflective in our voting pattern as more women have confidence in the men rather than the more capable women. We need to change their orientation to believe in themselves to refocus societal and cultural beliefs.

    Are you satisfied with the level of women in politics and what do you think are their challenges?

    The challenge of women in politics starts and ends with funding. We are as educated, if not more in some cases. Women need to brace up and get on with the programme. It can be very tasking and managing the home front with the political front can also be very challenging..

    Since you entered politics, has the field changed for women?

    Since I have been in politics in the last 12 or more years, women seem to be fading out in politics due to certain challenges which hinder their growth in the system. I recall that my party in Lagos had 2/3 women of its 24 House of Reps members in the last 20yrs reduce to none/zero  in the present Assembly. We however have one of the three Senators in the person of Sen Oluremi Tinubu and I dare say she is worth the representation and more in her legislative duties and keeping in touch with her grassroots. I however wish to see more female participation in the country with Lagos leading in affirmative action by bringing women worth their onions in the legislature and executive arms of government. The issue of funding has been a major challenge to women seeking political office. In my case I’m going against an incumbent who has been in government for 17 straight years as a 3/4 term local government chairman and Executive Secretary, and who is also serving his second term in the House of Representatives. As a private sector person I cannot afford to oil the party machinery the way he would but I know I bring in a wealth of knowledge, experience and education that counts for all the money he would throw around to buy the votes of the people. I bring into the race such credibility desirable to the people at this time and I’m confident Ikeja would be proud to have me as its face at the House of Representatives.

  • 2019: Ondo PDP adopts ex-commissioner for House of Reps 

    The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)in Ifedore local  government area of Ondo State yesterday, adopted a former Commissioner for Information, Mr. Kayode Akinmade, as its candidate for next year’s House of Representatives election.

    Their Idanre counterparts had earlier adopted Akinmade as their candidate.

    Leader of the party in Ifedore, Mr. Lawrence Ibukun, said Akinmade had all it takes to give quality representation to the people of the federal constituency.

    According to him, the aspirant’s experience as a former Special Adviser on Media to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and two-time Commissioner for Information in Ondo State would assist him in no small measure to bring quality development to the area.

    He said that the party decided to toe the line of bringing forth a sole candidate in the federal constituency in order to checkmate people who did not have good intentions for the constituency.

    He urged Akinmade to see Ifedore and Idanre as his people and ensure that equity and fair play define and dominate his legislative agenda. Ibukun advised  the leadership of the party in both Idanre and Ifedore to go back home and work assiduously for the emergence of the party’s standard-bearer in the election.

    Earlier, Akinmade promised to provide quality representation and ensure equity and fairness in the distribution of federal projects in the constituency. According to him, the era of marginalizing Idanre/Ifedore in the National Assembly is gone for good.

    He assured the people that he would use all his political networks to ensure that the anomalies of the past against the constituency were remedied. He promised to be with the people at all times and use the instrumentality of legislation to provide quality representation to the people.

    Also speaking, a former governorship candidate from the constituency, Mr Osakuade, said that the constituency was  lucky to have an aspirant in the caliber of Akinmade coming out to contest the House of Representatives election.

     

     

  • Jonathan’s son-in-law gets backing for House of Reps bid

    A group in Cross River State is supporting Mr. Godswill Edward for the Abi/Yakurr Federal Constituency seat in the House of Representatives in next year’s general elections. Edward, a native of Abi in Cross River State, is the son-in-law of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

    In a statement signed by its Coordinator, Mr Okoi Ibiang, and Secretary, Mr Emmanuel Etowa, the group, which is known as the Power Shift Abi/Yakurr 2019, said Edward has demonstrated a track record of capacity and has proven that he has what it takes to bring development to the people of the constituency. The statement stated that it was time for youth to take over governance.

    It reads: “All was agog in the country recently with the arrival of the French President Emmanuel Macron. While all spirits were high, it was important to note that Mr. Macron is young man. Amidst the frenzy and excitement, it should be a cause for sober reflection. For a country that has an overwhelmingly young population, this should serve to highlight the enormous potentials we have in this country.

    “The truth of the matter is that with the youths constituting the majority of the population, there is no gain saying that the future of the country lies solely on the shoulders of young people. In Cross River State, and particularly in the Abi/Yakurr Federal Constituency, this reality is more pertinent.

    “Here, we should change from the old order of running things. The emphasis should be on the youths. There should be a change and we implore the former governor and a political leader, Senator Liyel Imoke, who is from the area, to look at the youths and see how he can build a new breed of young people for governance.

    “The former governor should build a bridge between Yakurr and Abi, by building the capacity of more youths in the area, as he has been doing. We urge him to look inwards and think of a young man in the person of Godswill Edward.

    “This would not be just because the youths. In this particular case, Godswill should be patronized. This is because beyond all this, Godswill has demonstrated a track record of capacity. The young man has proven that he has what it takes to bring development to the people of Abi/Yakurr. He is a humanitarian, a motivational speaker, a youth developer and a successful entrepreneur among other things.

    “The world is changing fast and we cannot remain in the past. The young people have to step up and take the challenge of taking the society into the future. This does not mean that we jettison the old and experienced in our politics, because their words of wisdom still remain invaluable. The youths form the greater part of the voting population and the time for action is now.”

     

  • Group backs Jonathan’s son-in-law for House of Reps

    A group in Cross River State has expressed their support for Mr Godswill Edward for the Abi/Yakurr House of Representatives seat in the forthcoming 2019 elections. Edwards who hails from Abi Local Government Area of the state is the son-in-law of former President Goodluck Jonathan. Coordinator of the group, known as Power Shift Abi/Yakurr 2019, Mr Okoi Ibiang and the secretary, Mr Emmanuel Etowa, in a statement made available to The Nation in Calabar, said Edward has demonstrated a track record of capacity, and has proven that he has what it takes to bring development to the people of the constituency.

    He stressed that it was time for youths to take over governance. The statement reads: “With youths constituting the majority of the population, there is no gain saying that the future of the country lies solely on the shoulders of young people.

    In Cross River State and particularly in the Abi/Yakurr Federal Constituency, this reality is more pertinent. “Here, we should change from the old order of running things. The emphasis should be on the youths. There should be a change and we implore the former governor and a political leader, who is from the area, His Excellency, Senator Liyel Imoke, to look at the youths and see how he can build a new breed of young people for governance. “The former governor should build a bridge between Yakurr and Abi by building more youths as he has been doing and we urge him to look inwardly and think of a young man in the person of Godswill Edward.

  • 2019: Women seek Vice President’s seat

    Some Nigerian Women on Friday pushed for the seat of Vice President of Nigeria to be reserved for women in subsequent elections in the country.

    Women, under the platform of the Nigerian Female Parliamentarians made the demand when they paid a courtesy call on President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Speaking on behalf of the delegation, which comprises of elected lawmakers from the nation’s 36 states, Elizabeth Ativie said Nigerian Women are being marginalized by their male counterparts.

    She said the country only had one principal officer in each of the two chambers of the National Assembly since the return to democracy in 1999.

    She also said that as the President, anything he said at the gathering “will become policy and subsequently law”.

    Read Also:Former Vice President Atiku ‘s son remanded

    She said “Whenever the president is a man, the Vice President should be a woman”.

    Mrs. Ativie also said for every three senatorial seats in the states, one should be a woman.

    She said “Where there are nine House of Reps members, the men should take six and leave three for women”.

    Responding, President Buhari jokingly said “it is a pity that the Vice President is not here, but I am sure the Secretary to the Government of the Federation will brief him that his position is threatened “.

    He however appreciated the support given to him by women generally in the four times he ran for president.

    He recalled reports he received during elections in which women in labour queue to vote for him.

    He asked the delegation to take a message to their colleagues to extend the same support since he has declared to seek for second term.

    On their request, the president simply told the gathering that he is not “as powerful as you think”.

    He said such requests could only be made by a military head of state, but, he has today dropped the uniform for “agbada”.

     

     

  • Court nullifies Jibrin’s suspension by House of Reps

    •Judge says decision was arbitrary

    AN Abuja Federal High Court has declared as unlawful decision by the House Representatives to suspend one its members, Abdulmumin Jibrin, for 180 days.

    Justice John Tsoho, in a judgment yesterday, held that the House of Representatives, in suspending Jibrin beyond the 14 days allowed under its rules, violated the House’s Rules and Jibrin’s constitutionally guaranteed rights to freedom of expression and fair hearing.

    The judgment was on a suit filed on October 14, 2016, after his suspension on September 28, 2016.

    The House had resorted to suspending Jibrin (APC, Kano) after he accused its leadership of padding the 2016 budget.

    The judge resolved the five issues, identified for determination, against the defendants, including the House of Reps and its Speaker.

    Justice Tsoho, who rejected the defendants’ argument that Jibrin was suspended for violating the House’s Rules, held that it was wrong for some of the leaders, against who the plaintiff made allegation of corruption to participate in the proceedings leading to his suspension.

    The judge also held that the fact that Jibrin was suspended while his case was pending in court, supported his claim of vendetta and breach of his right to fair hearing.

    He said the House’s resolution of September 28, 2016 suspending the plaintiff for 180 legislative days  violated Section 68 of the Constitution, Sections  21 and 24 of the Legislative Houses Powers and Privileges Act (LHPPA), 2004 and Order 10 Rule 6 of the Standing Order of the House of Reps.

    After referring to some provisions of the House’s Standing Order and  some past decisions of other judges of the Federal High Court on similar cases, including the recent one filed by Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, Justice Tsoho held that the defendants are empowered to suspend an erring member for not more than 14 days.

    The judge said: “Therefore, even if it is conceded that the House was entitled to regulate its procedure and privileges beyond its Standing Orders, it had, in the attempt at doing so, grossly violated the plaintiff’s constitutionally guaranteed right to fair hearing, which automatically vitiated the process.”