The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)

  • PDP condemns alleged visits of Senator Abe to INEC

    PDP condemns alleged visits of Senator Abe to INEC

    The Rivers State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has expressed discomfort over the alleged frequent visits to the Abuja head office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), by Senator Magnus Abe, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in the forthcoming rerun National Assembly election in the State.

    Abe, a former Senator and APC candidate for Rivers South-East Senatorial District in the July 30, rescheduled Legislative elections, allegedly makes incessant visits on the office of the National election umpire.

    The state chairman of the party, Felix Obuah made the accusation in a statement in Port Harcourt, the state capital, yesterday.

    Obuah in his statement was trying to figure out the possible reason for the visits, which according to him has become too frequent for comfort and suspicious. His worry may not be unconnected with the fast approaching date for the rescheduled polls.

    In his words, Obuah said, “it is surprising that Abe can hardly comport himself and allow the electoral officers to do their job expeditiously.”

    He added, “if Abe is not accusing the electoral officers of taking sides, he is alleging one fraud or another just to play the spoiler, knowing full well that he cannot win any election in the entire Rivers South East.”

    On the part of PDP, the State Chairman said all that matters to the party is for the electoral body to do the right thing and ensure a smooth conduct of the re-run elections in which he believes the PDP will emerge victorious as usual.

    “Notwithstanding, we are keeping taps on every move by desperadoes and will never allow nor accept any act not in consonance with the principle of one man, one vote, to determine the final and the overall outcome of the re-run elections across the State,” Obuah warned.

    Abe was allegedly spotted in the INEC office on Monday and Friday last week and again, on Monday and Tuesday this week.

    Abe could not be reached as at press time for his reactions.

  • Edo Accord Party crisis deepens

    Edo Accord Party crisis deepens

    Crisis rocking the Edo State chapter of the Accord Party has widen following a law suit filed at the Federal High Court in Benin by a factional chairman of the party in the state, Dr. Samson Isibor.

    Defendants in the suit are Lawal Muhammad Nalado, Mr. Nureni Adisa, Don Pedro Obaseki and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    Dr. Isibor, in the suit, is seeking an interim injunction restraining Lawal and Adisa form parading themselves as National Executive Officers of the Accord Party as well as conveying meetings and selling of nomination forms to any aspirant.

    Isibor is asking the court to restrain Pedro Obaseki from parading himself as the governorship candidate of the Accord Party for the September 10 governorship election pending determination of the suit.

    He is also seeking an order of interim injunction restraining INEC from recognizing Pedro Obaseki as the party’s governorship candidate pending determination of the suit.

    A date is yet to be fixed for hearing of the suit.

    The factional state chairman of party, Joseph Omorogbe, said Dr. Isibor was expelled from the party two years ago.

    According to him, “Samson Isibor is not a member of Accord, he was expelled two years ago. He is an imposter right now.

    “Don Pedro is our aspirant and a member of our party. Ask Isibor to show proof that he is a member of our party.”

  • 1,390 Ad hoc staff for Kogi East senate re-run

    1,390 Ad hoc staff for Kogi East senate re-run

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said that 1,390 ad-hoc staff will be engaged for the July 23, 2016 Kogi East senatorial re-run.

    The Kogi State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr. Samuel Usman disclosed this Monday in Lokoja while briefing newsmen on preparation for the rerun.

    He listed the local government areas where the re-run will take place to include Ankpa, Bassa, Dekina, Ibaji and Idah.

    Others areas listed are Igalamela/Odolu, Ofu and Olamaboro LGs.

    He added that the state constituency re-run election will be conducted in one polling unit (PU 003- Idah) out of 89, while election will be conducted in 79 polling units out of 129, in Ofu LG.

    He said lessons learnt from previous exercises will be used in raising the bar during re-run, just as he called for mass participation in the electoral process, adding that the commission was poised to meeting the global best practices.

    He warned those with no permanent voters cards (PVCs) to stay clear of the polling centres, saying anybody who has no business with the process should steer clear.

    “Security agencies have collectively vowed to secure the election and would deal decisively with hoodlums who would want to disrupt the process,” he added.

  • Abia: Court upholds INEC’s issuance of Certificate of Return to Ogah

    Abia: Court upholds INEC’s issuance of Certificate of Return to Ogah

    *Refuses PDP’s motion for stay of execution

    *Insists on Ikpeazu’s sack   

    *Judge slams Ikpeazu over Abia court’s order

    Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja on Friday upheld the certificate of return issued to Sampson Ogah as the Governor of Abia State by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    The judge also refused an application by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for stay of execution of its judgment sacking the incumbent Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu.

    He described as an abuse of court process, the two applications for stay of execution filed by the PDP, and proceeded to dismiss them.

    The judge berated Ikpeazu for going before the Abia State High Court, Osisioma to obtain an ex-parte order, with the intention of frustrating the execution of the judgment of his court.

    Justice Abang spoke while delivering two rulings on Friday in relation to the applications by Ikpeazu and his party, the PDP for the stay of execution of the court’s judgment in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1086/2014 and filed by a PDP member, Obasi Uba Eleagbara.

    The proceedings lasted about seven and half hours, from 9am to 4:30pm.

    The court had on June 27 gave two judgments sacking Ikpeazu on the ground that he was not qualified to contest the last PDP primary election in the state having made false representation about his tax status to INEC. The suits were the one by Eleagabara and Sampson Ogah.

    When the case by Eleagbara was called, Ikpeazu’s lawyer, Wole Olanipekun (SAN) told the court that he was not ready to argue the application for stay of execution filed on behalf of his client.

    Olanipekun sought an adjournment on the ground that he was new in the case and had not studied the application.

    But, lawyer to the plaintiff, Alex Iziyon objected to an adjournment and insisted that the application must be argued.

    On sensing that the judge was inclined to hearing the application, Olanipekun applied to withdraw the application. Iziyon did not object to Olanipekun’s application to withdraw, but told the judge to dismiss the application.

    Ruling, Justice Agang noted that having taken steps to circumvent the execution of the court’s judgment, the court could no longer indulge. Him.

    “Dr. Ikpeazu slapped the court in the face; went to a different court that is of coordinate jurisdiction and obtained another ex parte order that has the effect of neutralising the order of this court.

    “He slapped the court in the face, he cannot expect the court to grant him an indulgence. I so hold.

    “You cannot flout an order of court and expect the court to listen to you and grant you a discretionary indulgence. It is a serious matter to slap a court,” the judge said.

    While dismissing the applications for stay of execution by the PDP, Justice Abang he the party’s decision to file two application at the same time was an abuse of court process.

    He said: “The judgment of this court was given in favour of Dr. Sampson Ogah. One of the orders directed the PDP to forward the names of the person with the second highest votes at the PDP primary, Okezie Ikpeazu having been disqualified from contesting the primary, to INEC as the party’s candidate for the election.

    “The order made against Ikpeazu was rightly made. It subsists until it is set aside on appeal.

    “There is no issue of stay of execution. The judgment having been enforced by INEC, there is nothing to stay.

    “The judgment has been executed, certificate of return has been issued in favour of Ogah as Governor of Abia State.

    “There is no evidence that the motion for stay was served on INEC before it issued the certificate of return. Therefore, INEC lawfully issued the certificate of return to Ogah, which was issued in compliance with the orders of the court,” Justice Abang said.

    The judge awarded N40,000 cost against PDP to be paid to Ogah before it could take any further steps in the case.

    Earlier in relation to the case by Ogah, the judge elected to suspend further proceedings on the application for stay of the judgement in the case filed by Ikpeazu.

    The judge said his decision to stay further action in the case pending appeal, was informed by the concession by Iziyon that the appeal filed against the judgment had been entered at the Court of Appeal and that records of appeal had been complied.

    The judge said he would have proceeded to hear the applications pending before his court, including the one by the Ogah, which sought to set aside the order made the Osisioma High Court, but for the concession of Iziyon that the appeal having been entered, the trial court should stay all actions.

    Justice Abang, who drew a distinction between when a trial court could or could not stay proceedings because appeal had been entered at the Court of Appeal, said where it was an appeal against a final judgment, the trial court has the jurisdiction to hear an application for stay of execution.

    He relied on the provision of Order 7 Rule 3 and 4 of the Court of Appeal Rules to hold that a trial court could only stay proceedings where an appeal is entered at the Appeal Court if such an appeal was on an interlocutory decision.

    Justice Abang further held that where the decision appealed against was a final judgment of the trial court, such a court has the jurisdiction to first determine an application for stay of execution before such application is filed at the appellate court where the trial court refuses it.

  • Ogah not eligible to be Abia Governor- Court

    Ogah not eligible to be Abia Governor- Court

    …Ikpeazu cleared of Tax evasion allegation

    A Federal High Court sitting in Owerri on Friday ruled that Dr Uche Ogah, who was recently presented with a Certificate of Return by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the legitimate Governor of Abia State, is not “eligible to enjoy the outcome of the PDP primary because he rejected the result of the primary”.

    The Court also dismissed a suit filed by Chief Friday Nwosu, seeking to remove the Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu for allegedly presenting a forged Tax Certificate to his party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

    Nwosu a guber aspirant on the PDP platform during Dec.8, 2014 primary approached the Court praying that he be declared Abia Governor on the grounds that Ikpeazu was not qualified to represent the PDP during 2015 election.

    Delivering judgment on the suit, the presiding Judge, Lewis Allagoa, stated that the Plaintiff through his Counsel failed to justify his claim that the Tax Certificate submitted by Ikpeazu was forged.

    Allagoa noted that aside looking at documents in litigation, proving a forged matter requires adequate clarification and additional proof by experts before a forgery claim can be established by law.

    On the claim that Ikpeazu was not properly taxed in the year 2011, the Court noted that it was not the position of Ikpeazu, but that of the tax official to determine how he could be taxed.

    The Court maintained that since the issuing Authority (Abia State Board of Internal Revenue) was not joined in the suit nor an expert engaged to ascertain the authenticity of the document it would be unlawful for the court to rule in favour of the Plaintiff.

    On the third relief sought by the Plaintiff, seeking to dismiss the claim to the governorship position by Dr Uche Ogah, the Court  ruled in favour of the plaintiff, noting “Ogah  is not eligible to enjoy the outcome of the PDP primary because he rejected the result of the primary”.

    Allagoa had earlier favoured Nwosu on two other grounds; that the originating summons filed was properly filed and that the Federal High Court has jurisdiction to hear the pre-election suit.

    Reacting to the judgment which lasted more than two hours, Dr Livy Uzoukwu (SAN), J.T.U. Nnodum and Theo Nkire who represented the Independent National Electoral Commission, PDP and Ikpeazu respectively said that the judgment was a landmark one.

    Nkire specifically commended the Justice for his industry in reviewing all issues raised by parties and at the end gave a sound judgment that would be hard to fault elsewhere.

    Mr Francis Unyimadu, the plaintiff counsel also thanked the court for the judgment and added that his client will critically look at the judgment and known what next to do.

    Meanwhile moments after the ruling, supporters of the Abia Governor, who  attended the court in their uniforms were dancing and singing songs of thanksgiving for the victory which they said had adequately addressed the recent distractions to the Governor.

  • Court refuses Ikpeazu’s request to set aside order on INEC

    Court refuses Ikpeazu’s request to set aside order on INEC

    A Federal High Court in Abuja has rejected request by Abia State governor, Okezie Ikpeazu to set aside the enrolled orders on its judgment of June 27 on which basis the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) issued a certificate of return to Samson Ogah.

    Following the June 27 judgement by Justice Okon Abang, sacking Ikpeazu, an enrolment of the judgment orders were served on INEC, on which it relied in issuing the certificate of return to Ogah.

    Monday, Ikpeazu’s lawyer, Wole Olanipekun (SAN) had while praying the court to set aside the enrolled orders, argued that it formed the basis of the confusion created by INEC’s action.

    Olanipekun, in his counter-response, again accused INEC and Ogah of being the ones resorting to self-help.

    He argued that there was no justification for presenting the certificate of return to Ogah on June 30 after INEC had received the notice of appeal and the motion for stay of execution on June 28.

    He went on to urge the court to set aside the enrolled order of the court issued with respect to the judgment served on INEC, which he said was the foundation of the “purported issuance of the certificate of return” to Ogah.

    He also asked the court to quash the certificate of return issued to Ogah by INEC.

    He said, “I urge your lordship to set aside the certificate of return purportedly issued by INEC on June 28 and handed over to the plaintiff/respondent on June 30 during the pendency of the processes before the Court of Appeal.”

    He urged the court to quash the enrolled order which it issued on the strength of the judgment, arguing that it ought not to have been issued without the parties being given a time lag to exhaust their rights of appeal.

    “Execution of judgment is not automatic as people think. The court is expected to give a time lag to the defendant/judgment debtor,” Olanipekun saidM

    Justice Abang refused to set aside the enrolled court order, saying section 19 of the Sheriff and Civil Processes Act, relied on by Olanipekun did not define processes to include the enrolled court order.

    Describing Olanipekun’s application for the voiding of the court’s enrolled order as lacking in merit, Justice Abang said the court had the power to enroll its order at any time after judgment had be delivered.

    Later, Olanipelun prayed the court to adjourned hearin to a later date in his client’s application for stay of proceedings to enable his respond to the reply filed by Ogah’s lawyer, Alex Iziyon (SAN).

    Iziyon objected and urged the court to set aside the order of the Abia State High Court in Osisioma restraining the Chief Judge of the state from swearing in Ogah as governor, and reiterate the judgment of the court.

    Izinyon argued that going ahead to obtain such an order from the Abia High Court without bringing the order to the attention of Justice Abang on Monday, Ikpeazu had resorted to self-help.

    Izinyon asked the court to set aside the Abia State High Court’s order and reiterate the judgment since Ikpeazu’s motion for stay of execution had allegedly achieved essentially what the motion intended to achieve.

    I”My lord the question to ask borders on the integrity and the sanctity of this order obtained from the Abia State High Court and the application before this court now.

    “They are asking for a date when they have in their pocket a court order which has tied the hands of the plaintiff preventing him from presenting himself for swearing in, contrary to the order of this court.

    “My lord, what is paramount here is that the applicant, Okezie Ikpeazu, went somewhere else to get this order from another High Court.

    “We submit with respect that the applicant did not bring this to your lordship’s attention. They have not told your lordship that they went somewhere else to obtain the order.

    “Now that we have brought this to the attention of the court, our application is that your lordship will undo the act of the applicant by setting aside the order because it was made during the pendency of this application,” Iziyon said.

    In his contribution, lawyer to INEC, Alhassan Umar justified the decision of his cleint to issue certificate of return to Ogah despite the appeal filed by Ikpeazu.

    He argued tahe the mere filing of notice of appeal by Ikpeazu could not operate as stay o proceedings to restrain INEC from executing an order of court duly served on it.

    “We do not object to the application for adjournment.

    “On the issue of enrollment order of this court, the third defendant/respondent (INEC) issued Certificate of Return to the plaintiff respondent as ordered by this court.

    “My Lord, on the issue of time of service of the processes, with due respect, the certificate speaks for itself. The date it was issued is on the certificate.

    “My lord ordered the third defendant to issue certificate of return forthwith and upon service of the order, my lord, on June 28, 2016, the 3rd defendant issued a certificate of return accordingly.

    “The certificate of return was issued before we were served with the motion on June 28. We had issued the certificate upon being served with the order.

    “The certificate bears the date it was issued. We were served with the motion on June 28. But we had issued the certificate upon being served with the order.

    “By the issuance I meant it was signed on June 28, but the actual presentation of the certificate was on June 30.

    “My lord, we had no difficulty in issuing the certificate because election matters are suis generis (are in class of their own), and where the law intends that an appeal should operate as a stay, it is expressly stated so.

    “Section 143 (1) of the Electoral Act deals with election petitions and appeals arising therefrom. The judgment of this court, in our view is not regulated by section 143(1) of the Electoral Act.

    “My lord, in other words, if the law intended that an appeal in a pre-election matter should operate as a stay against the judgment of the court it would have expressly provided so,” Umar said.

    After listening to parties’ submission, Justice Abang elected to hear all pending application, including Ikpeazu’ motion for stay of execution and Ogah’ motion to set aside the order by Abia State High Court to July 7.

    Meanwhile Ogah has appealed to his supporters to remain calm and awaiting the outcome of the pending issues before the court.

    Ogah, in a statement Monday by his Special Adviser on Public Communications, Onyekachi Ubani said “As we enjoin the great people of Abia to remain calm and peaceful as we expect Justice to be done on the matter, Dr Ogah again reaffirms his belief in the rule of rule of law and herein states that this is the right channel for Dr Ikpeazu and his team to seek redress other than resorting to the procurement of a clearly ‘black market judgment’ from an Abia High Court Dr Ogah’s swearing in.

    “It is pertinent to still reiterate that failure to have sworn in Dr Ogah  as the duly elected Governor of Abia State was  an  affront to the rule of law and constitutional governance. The added misfront of instituting and declaring a public holiday in Abia State  to further, in their own wisdom, frustrate Dr Ogah’s swearing in is a clear case of abuse of office.

    “As a law abiding citizen, we submit ourselves to the dictates of the rule of law and in the spirit of true and constitutional democracy await the judgment from the High Court in Abuja on the motion for stay of execution as regards Dr. Ogah’s swearing in slated for Thursday.

    “We enjoin all Abians to remain peaceful as we express optimism that come Thursday, justice will reign supreme over undue machinations. Our resolve to enthrone an Abia that will be the envy of all is total and there is no going back on this.”

  • Abia: INEC issues certificate of return to Ogah

    Abia: INEC issues certificate of return to Ogah

    Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Thursday issued Certificate of Return to Samson Ogah following court order that Okezie Ikpeazu vacate the Office of Governor of Abia.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) said INEC National Commissioner (South East) Lawrence Nwuruku confirmed the issuance of the certificate to Ogah.

    Details shortly…..

     

     

  • Bayelsa election: Appeal Court tribunal to play key video evidence

    Bayelsa election: Appeal Court tribunal to play key video evidence

    Former Bayelsa State governor,Chief  Timipre Sylva got a major boost Friday in his challenge of the re-election of the incumbent Seriake Dickson.

    The Court of Appeal, Abuja, in a ruling  Friday, ordered the State Governorship Election Tribunal to play, in the open court, a digital video disc (DVD) recording of the announcement of the cancellation of the election in Southern Ijaw Local Government by the  Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC).

    Sylva, who is contesting the declaration of Dickson as winner of the last governorship election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), contends, in his petition, that INEC’s REC lacked the powers to cancel election.

    The ex-governor, whose lawyer, Sebastine Hon (SAN) had pleaded was denied the opportunity to play DVD when he applied to do so through a witness.

    However, the Court of Appeal Friday faulted the tribunal’s refusal to allow Sylva play the DVD. It directed the tribunal to play the DVD in the open court.

    Justice Onyeakachi Ottis, who read the court’s unanimous judgment on the interlocutory appeal by Sylva, set aside the tribunal’s ruling of May 10, 2016 rejecting the request by Sylva lawyer to have the DVD played.

    The court said that contrary to the decision of the Tribunal the appellant complied with the conditions precedence stipulated in Section 84 of the Evidence Act on the admissibility of electronically generated evidence.

    The appellate court held that it was wrong of the tribunal to have misapplied Section 84 to deny the appellant the right to play the DVD in the open court to justify his petition against the election of Governor Seriake Dickson.

    It said once the evidence had been admitted, having met all the conditions under Section 84 of the Evidence Act, there was no need for any certificate before any computer could be deployed to play the DVD in evidence.

    The court ordered the tribunal to recall the petitioner’s witness, through which he had sought to play it, to play the said DVD in the open court.

    It noted that the DVD was pleaded by the petitioner; it is relevant to the petition, and that it also the tendering also conforms to the law on electronically generated document.

    The court further noted that since it was admitted in evidence in line with Section 84 of Evidence Act; the foundation for its admission well laid, and the DVD well pleaded in the petition, “it is not the decision of the judiciary to supply any authority other than to follow the law in the circumstances.”

    The court said there ought not to be any inhibition to the playing of the DVD in the open court by the tribunal because all conditions prescribed by law have been fulfilled by the appellant.

    It held that the DVD ought to be played by the tribunal in the open court to demonstrate that it intended not to make it a sleeping exhibit.

    Reacting to the judgement, Hon described it as a milestone in the development of our laws and will go a long way in strengthening the laws.

    He said justice has been done to in his client’s case.

    Lawyer to Dickson, Emeka Etiaba (SAN) said his client would first study the judgment and then, decide on what next step to take.

  • INEC to mark maiden `INEC Day’ at NYSC orientation camps

    INEC to mark maiden `INEC Day’ at NYSC orientation camps

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), says it will mark the maiden edition of the `INEC Day’ at National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), orientation camps across the country, on Monday, June 27.

    INEC’s daily bulletin issued on Friday in Abuja stated that the decision was in furtherance of the commission’s “Voter Education drive.’’

    It stated that INEC would use the occasion to engage NYSC members, 2016 Batch A stream II, on various topics such as Voter Education/INEC Ambassador; and role of youth corps members.

    “Corps members will also be engaged on corps welfare at elections; role of security in elections; roles of Presiding Officers, Assistant Presiding Officers and Presiding Officers; basic election process and history of elections,’’ it added.

    The commission stated that the INEC Chairman would on Wednesday, June 29 meet with all Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs), in Abuja.

    It added that the commission had concluded arrangement for a three-day zonal workshop for Heads of Department HODs and Heads of Publicity Units (HOPUs) of the commission.

    It stated that the workshop, scheduled for June 27 to July 13, would be on “Strategic Communication and Review of Voter Education Strategies.’’

    In another development, the bulletin quoted INEC National Commissioner, Prince Solomon Soyebi, at a workshop, urging Public Affairs Officers of the commission to be proactive and ensure proper management of information on INEC.

    Soyebi, who is also the Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee (IVEC), said the commission was committed to constantly communicating its policies, plans and actions with stakeholders.

    He said there was need to revive the communication activities of INEC especially in the state offices, which he said had ebbed, compared to the recent past.

  • Fayose’s conduct shameful, says Sheriff

    Fayose’s conduct shameful, says Sheriff

    . . .I ‘m in charge of PDP’s bank accounts

    Embattled National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Ali Modu Sheriff, has described the public conduct of Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayo Fayose as shameful.

    Sheriff was responding to statements by Fayose to the effect that he was removed as chairman because he was scheming for the 2019 presidential ticket of the PDP and was also baiting some party chieftains with the vice presidential ticket.

    But at a media briefing in Abuja yesterday, Sheriff said, “I am ashamed at the way and manner Fayose is conducting himself in the country. I was once a governor so I know that the position of governor is a very serious one that demands responsible behaviour”.

    He denied scheming for the party’s presidential ticket, saying “I never told anybody I wanted to run for president and I did not promise anybody the vice presidential ticket. I have decided not to join issues with Fayose”.

    To buttress his claim to the chairmanship of the party, Sheriff said the National Working Committee (NWC) under him is in charge of the bank accounts of the PDP, to the exclusion of the Makarfi led caretaker committee.

    “Myself and the Treasurer who is also a member of the NWC are signatories to the bank accounts of the PDP. Makarfi may also open another account in the name of his caretaker committee if he wished”, Sheriff said.

    The former Borno state Governor said he had forgiven Makarfi and his committee members for their failed attempt to take over the party and invited them to rejoin the PDP under his leadership.

    Said he, “There is only one PDP, which is the one under my leadership. Anyone who thinks that the Makarfi contraption can work is deceiving himself. I am the only chairman of the PDP recognised by the courts, the constitution and the Electoral Act.

    “I became chairman because the PDP chose me to lead the party. So I won’t sit by and watch some people mess up the party. I am here to correct what had gone wrong with state congresses conducted by the party”.

    Sheriff then went ahead to inaugurate a separate committee to conduct fresh primaries to pick a candidate for the party in the upcoming Edo state governorship election.

    He named a serving senator, Hope Uzodinma as chairman of the committee and a former presidential aide, Ahmed Gulak as secretary.

    According to him, three aspirants had already obtained nomination forms for a fee of N10 million each, saying that the money had been deposited in the party’s bank account.

    Sheriff announced that he would soon convene the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting to ratify the candidature of the winner of the Edo primary election to be conducted by the Uzodinma committee.

    “After that, we will forward the name of our governorship candidate to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) before the July 10 deadline set by the commission for the submission of candidates”, he said.

    He declared as “null and void” the primary election conducted by the Makarfi committee, and which produced Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu as the governorship candidate of the party for Edo state.

    Sheriff dismissed as false, claims by the Makarfi committee that INEC monitored the Edo governorship primary election it conducted, saying the commission had debunked the claim.

    Party chieftains that identified with Sheriff as chairman and who were present at the event were Uzodinma, Gulak, Senator Buruji Kashamu and Mrs. Mariam Ali.

    Others are former Imo state Governor, Ikedi Ohakim; former PDP vice chairman (South-South), Dr. Cairo Ojougboh; PDP Southwest zonal chairman, Makanjuola Ogundipe; a former Deputy Governor of Oyo state, Kasim Gbolarunmi; Senator Saidu Kumo; Mrs. Esther Audu.

    Also at the event were Prof. Wale Oladipo and Fatai Adeyanju who are still laying claim to the positions of National Secretary and National Auditor respectively.