A Federal High Court in Abuja has faulted the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and its Chairman, Prof Atahiru Jega, over the N34.5 billion contracts the commission awarded in 2010 for the purchase of Direct Data Capturing (DDC) machines for voters’ registration.
The court’s Chief Judge, Justice Ibrahim Auta, in a judgment on Tuesday, held that in the award and execution of the contracts, INEC, its chairman and three companies involved in the transaction, infringed on a valid and subsisting patent right owned solely by a firm – Bedding Holdings Limited (BHL).
The judge held that from the totality of evidence provided by parties in the case, it was clear that the plaintiff, BHL actually owned a subsisting patent right over the process, application and the use of DDC machines for voters’ registration.
He ordered INEC, Jega and others to pay BHL N17.25billion as compensation for infringing on its valid and subsisting patent right.
BHL had in the suit filed by its lawyer, John Okoriko, alleged that INEC and Jega infringed on its patented right over “the process and application of DDC machines for the compilation and collection of various bio-data,” by awarding contracts for the purchase and deployment of the DDC machines for the compilation of the voters register without the consent of BHL.
Named with INEC and Jega as defendants were the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and the companies to which INEC awarded the contracts – Haier Electrical Appliances Corporation Limited, Zinox Technologies Limited and Avante International Technology.
Justice Auta upheld Okoriko’s argument and evidence to the effect that the plaintiff is the sole owner of the patent right over the process and that its rights were infringed by the conduct of the defendants, except the AGF.
He held that although the AGF was not a party to the transaction, but as the nation’s chief law officer and a relevant officer in the execution of orders made against the government or its agents, he was a necessary party in the case.
Justice Auta further held that the nation’s Patent and Design Act preclude anybody from using a patented invention without the consent of the inventor. He added that Section 6 of the Act provides for the protection of a patent right and that it was the duty of the court to ensure such protection.
Tag: Inec
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Court faults INEC over DDC machines’ contracts
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INEC’s timetable is Presidency’s script, says Kwankwaso
‘APC will win because Nigerians are tired of PDP’
Kano State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso has criticised the 2015 poll timetable released by the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC). It is suspicious, he said yesterday.
To him, by putting presidential election first, INEC is acting the script of an agenda by the Presidency.
He urged the National Assembly to reverse the poll order to prevent a “bandwagon effect”.
Kwankwaso, who spoke with some reporters in Abuja, predicted that the All Progressives Congress (APC) would win the 2015 poll because Nigerians are tired of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
He said there is so much anger in the land such that PDP cannot make it in 2015.
Said the governor: “I think it is one of the things that we know. We know the President has been praying to have his election first. He tried that during the last election in 2011 and the National Assembly refused to allow his election to come first; they put it second. The order in 2011 was National Assembly first, presidential, governorship and State House of Assembly elections.
“Now, I don’t know how they influenced the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC ) to put his election and National Assembly election first and then two weeks after, they do House of Assembly and governorship elections. I think the presidential election should come last. That has been the correct thing; you deal from the bottom; you don’t start from the air.
“But if you have structure on the ground, at least you have structure. And the way they are going about it, especially going by the utterances of those that are always visiting their dining tables and sitting rooms, I think there may be some agenda.
“If you hear what many people from their side are talking about, it is like they are threatening everybody. And with that, they want to go to the presidential election first, I think that is a big mistake. I think that should be reversed. The National Assembly must look at that.
“You don’t just sit down and put their election because that is what they want. What criteria did they use? How and why are you starting with the presidential election? I think that is giving a lot of concerns about the activities of INEC. People are really concerned and I think INEC people should be concerned also. It is very easy here in Abuja to sit down and take decision and whether you like it or not, you have to take it.”
Asked if he is suspecting a likely bandwagon effect, if the presidential election comes first, Kwankwaso said: “I think that is what they are angling for; that is what they are planning.
“You see, the bandwagon is not the only issue; the other issue is that they want to intimidate people; if you don’t vote for me, I will do this, I will do that. That is what they want to do; we all know the tricks; we have been in the game long before many of them. They want to use intimidation.
“I don’t think anybody on that side is really serious and believing that they will win elections under free and fair atmosphere. I think it is about INEC, it is about security agencies, intimidation; it is about money.”
Responding to a question, Kwankwaso expressed confidence that the APC would win the 2015 general elections because Nigerians want change.
He said: “It is very easy, very simple. You have to understand that in politics, there is what you call fatigue.
“When we say fatigue in politics (this game), we mean if a party is elected one, two, three in elections, fatigue is beginning to build. Now, this party is elected four times. You cannot do that in Britain, you cannot do that in America; you cannot do that in any civilised society. Four times and you are still looking for fifth time and yourself third term. You cannot win, you cannot. People want change.
“That is why the Americans decided to say that after two terms, just go. They say you are good but just go; let us try a bad one. Otherwise, Bill Clinton would have been President today, they still like him. They said ‘Clinton, you did very well, but just go, let us try a bad one and see, we will appreciate you more. That is fatigue.
“Even in Britain, the same story. I was in Britain when Margaret Thatcher came; she had first term, second term and third term; they had to sack her. They said, ‘Madam you did well in Falkland, you are Iron Lady, but you are not the only one. Please, go; let us get someone else. The same thing they did to Tony Blair. That is fatigue. It is not like they did something extra-ordinarily wrong, but people within the party felt they were not the only ones.
“That fatigue is showing on PDP. Worse is their activities; they are not doing well. That is the issue. They are not Clinton; they are not Obama or even Margaret Thatcher. The insecurity is worsening the situation. So, the insecurity and economic issues are there, Nigerians are unhappy.”
The governor insisted that Nigerians are angry and they are seeking a drastic change in 2015.
He said there was no basis for the invitation of a former Minister of FCT, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai by the State Security Service(SSS).
Kwankwaso added: “I was surprised. I haven’t heard what el-Rufai said, but I heard him on BBC and if going by what he said on BBC is correct, I don’t see why the SSS should be looking for him.
“I don’t know what el-Rufai said, but the fact remains that people are really angry. They should know, people are angry. And it is not only in Kano State, or in the Northwest or in the North; it is across the country. You see, I always advise my friends who are talking about this North, South, Muslim, Christian, and all these dichotomies.
“You see, the fact of the matter is that people are angry either in Rivers or Bayelsa, Delta, Kano or Sokoto. In other words, from Kano to Calabar to Kebbi, people are angry. Things are not happening.”
“Now from what I know if you are talking of being President for eight years in this country, President Jonathan is not qualified but I am not a lawyer and I am not taking it from the angle of law. Others would do that. But for us who are politicians, we will take it from the angle of public opinion. Third term is not acceptable in this country.
“Term limit must be respected … but across the country. Look, I was governor in 1999 – 2003 in Kano. Eight years after that was 2011 I came back. So many people come to me and say go to court. In fact, many other people are interested in gong to court on my behalf to Supreme Court to get interpretation because in their opinion I still have a chance of contesting election again in 2015, depending on the pronouncement of the Supreme Court. But, you see, the fact of the matter is, whether good or bad, you are not a Lord, you have to keep on moving. Life is dynamic. I have been in Kano system, especially in the then PDP, from 1998 to 2011 when I contested election and up till now. And before then I was also in other parties, especially during DPN I nominated the party and I think to a large extent in the country in terms of who became governor in those states. So, you have to keep on. You can’t say that I was governor four years now because I was outside for eight years now I want to do another two terms. To me, that is sad talk. To me, that is extending otime limit and that has never been accepted anywhere. In politics what is permanent is change and we have to accept change. Life is dynamic.
“One of the major reasons I left the party is the non-appreciation of the mood of the people. Nigerian people are looking for change and probably this was why APC decided to say “APC”, they say “Change”.
“That change is very crucial. It is very important. People want change in this country. There are so many things that are going wrong and worst is that those who should listen are finding it difficult to even listen, to understand, to have the capacity to appreciate the circumstances, the situation that we are in. And that is a huge problem and whoever comes out to advise them, they will send their aides to go and say they should be taken to psychiatric hospital.
While in the actual sense, it is their principals that should be taken to psychiatric hospitals. Because you have to know when you are strong. You have to know when you are weak. Many of us…I worked for them in PDP in 1999. I did in 2003. I did in 2007. I also did in 2011. Many of us who are the pillars of the party are either out of it completely or are sitting on the fence or are warming up to cross the border because nobody would want to stay under a decking that is collapsing. The decking there is collapsing.
“We are the pillars of PDP, whether they like it or not and it is now that they will begin to see the facts of the matter.
“The new chairman of the PDP, I am sure, can do nothing. There is absolutely nothing he can do but I know he really loves the job, just like Tukur, who actually wanted the job and he may want to be saying things, some from the bottom of his heart and many of them from the mouth. But the fact of the matter is that they know that Nigeria deserves a better leadership in 2015.
Even when we were there in PDP, people were saying the party will rule for 60 years. It is not 60. It is 16 years. Ogbulafor was saying 60. Every chairman was saying 60. It is not 60; it is 16 years. It is only that you did not hear them well. In 2015, they should go.
“You see in APC now, I think everybody has learnt a lesson. Everybody. All of us – our leaders, ourselves and our supporters. Everybody is feeling the pinch. So, what we are saying is, ‘this party is very important- whether they are doing good or bad”.
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2015: Jega wants RECs, officials to be vigilant
•APGA faction to INEC: don’t recognise Umeh
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman Prof. Attahiru Jega, has advised Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) and officials to be more vigilant and cautious as the country prepares for next year’s general elections.
This information is contained in the INEC daily bulletin issued by the commission’s Deputy Director (Publicity), Mr Nick Dazang, in Abuja.
The bulletin said that Jega gave the advice when he addressed the RECs and members of staff during the just-concluded INEC retreat in Kaduna.
“All eyes are on us, our friends, partners, concerned citizens, and indeed, even our adversaries.
“We must be more vigilant, be more committed and strengthen our harmony at all levels to achieve the desired results,” the bulletin quoted the chairman as saying.
Jega, the bulletin said, urged management and staff to do their job with integrity, impartial and non-partisan manner.
He observed that in reviewing the commission’s sundry programmes and plans to be implemented this year, “it is evident that there will be gaps”.
It said Jega urged participants at the retreat to ensure that those gaps were filled and that fundamental things that needed to be done were implemented.
It stated that the commission would ensure that competencies were improved and that those who had the capacity to deliver more efficiently were given the opportunity to do so.
The News Agency of Nigeria recalls that it was at the retreat that INEC released the timetables for the Osun and Ekiti governorship elections and that of next year’s general elections.
Also, yesterday, the Chief Maxi Okwu-led faction of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) has asked INEC, not to recognise Chief Victor Umeh as the chairman.
In a petition to the commission dated January 27, Okwu said that contempt proceedings had been instituted against Umeh and Alhaji Sani Shinkafi, the party’s National Secretary, for undermining the judgment of an Abuja High Court.
He said that his attention had been drawn to a letter signed by the two ousted officers to the commission in disobedience to court order.
Okwu, who was recognised as national chairman by the court, said that the former officers had still been parading themselves as chairman and secretary.
“Our attention has been drawn to a letter addressed to the commission, and co-signed by our erstwhile national chairman and secretary, Alhaji Sani Shinkafi”.
“This is quite in character since this saga began. Please, note that we have since commenced committal proceedings against them for contempt of court with the issuance of Form 48,” he said.
The Okwu-led faction advised Prof. Jega, not to undermine the authority of the court.
The letter said Umeh and Shinkaffi seemed not to know that an application for stay of execution was not a stay of execution.
“They also mischievously forgot that courts do not stay declaratory relief.
“In total disobedience to a valid and subsisting final judgment in which Jega and themselves were parties, the duo have been misbehaving as if the country is a jungle where everyman is on his own and only the fittest survive.
“Since judgment was delivered against them on January 15 to their chagrin, they have used all sorts of unprintable words and guttersnipe language to insult the Judiciary in private and in the media,” it stated.
Okwu said that on January 18 in a televised show of lawlessness in Awka, the Umeh-led faction gathered at a purported APGA National Executive Council (NEC) meeting.
“They also claimed to have called a national convention for February 14,” he said.
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CNPP berates SSS for querying ex-FCT minister
The Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) yesterday condemned the State Security Service (SSS) for questioning former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Nasir el-Rufai.
The CNPP described the action as bias and unfair.
It added that the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, had made similar statements, like many notable Nigerians, who had not been summoned.
The CNPP urged the SSS to “restrain in making mountains out of mole hills and embarking on selective amnesia, which casts our security agencies in partisan colours”.
In a statement yesterday in Abuja by its National Publicity Secretary, Osita Okechukwu, the conference said: “The CNPP has read carefully the statement credited to Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, in which he said there would be violence, if the 2015 elections are not credible, free and fair.
“We are at a loss how this nimble conditional statement constitutes security threat and is rated weighty enough to attract the attention of the Directorate of State Service {DSS} to arrest him.
“In our candid view, it smacks of selective justice and gives credence to the watch list, which former President Olusegun Obasanjo harped on in his letter to President Goodluck Jonathan.
“We hope we are not sliding back to the dark days of dictatorship, when a watch list would drift into a hit list!
“Otherwise, what is harmful in the speech, when it sounds like a rapid response to the explosive pessimistic statement made by the Chief Electoral Officer of the federation, Prof Attahiru Jega, few days earlier that the 2015 elections will not be perfect? It’s a speech couched as if the hurdles before INEC are insurmountable and, therefore, a good excuse to rig the elections. Then argue after the havoc that ‘I told you before’.
“Or, can we easily forget the explosive statements by the former governor of Anambra State, Dr Chukwuemeka Ezeife, that stopping President Jonathan in 2015 will have grave consequences? Nor the ones by Alhaji Asari Dokubo and Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, all President’s men?
“Yet, we have no record that any of them has been hounded by the DSS.”
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‘Elections should be held same day’
The credibility of the 2015 elections is on the line, if the nation fails to hold the elections on the same day, House of Representatives Deputy Minority Leader Kawu Sumaila (APC, Kano) has said.
The lawmaker said the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC’s) timetable is subject to legislative review and approval in line with the Electoral Act.
The INEC released its timetable, showing that the Presidential and National Assembly elections would be held first while the governorship and Houses of Assembly would follow.
In a statement yesterday, Kawu noted that holding the elections on the same day would reduce their cost
He said: “It will be proper to conduct all elections on the same day to save cost and reduce tension. All the five elections can be conducted on the same day with voters being given five ballot papers and five ballot boxes stationed at every polling booth.
“This will make candidates to mobilise their agents to monitor the process well.
“The allowances to ad hoc workers on each Election Day, instead of paying two or three times, the government will pay once.
“The elections should also be moved backwards to January 2015 or November 2014 so that there will be time to dispose of litigation before swearing-in. It will help those elected to prepare themselves very well to take over the rollout of their programmes.”
“However, as far as the timetable released by INEC is concerned, it is still subject to the review of the Electoral Act and the 1999 Constitution, which are pending before the National Assembly.
“Therefore, even the sequence elections will then be subject to legislation by the National Assembly.”
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Why APC national leaders should resolve Ogun crisis
Ogun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is embroiled in crisis. State Correspondent Ernest Nwokolo examines the issues at stake.
The All Progressives Congress (APC), a formidable opposition party, entered the nation’s political firmament late last year following its official registration by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). It is a conglomeration of democrats and progressives who espouse politics of ideas and peace as opposed to that of violence, thuggery and the machiavellian-like principle of might-is-right.
This image is what the party at the national and state levels has been striving to protect since its emergence as a registered political party. To certain extent, this has endeared it to the teeming progressive – minded Nigerians, particularly the youth, who are desirous of change from the much maligned and lack – lustre outing of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) at the centre in the last 15 years.
But in Ogun State the story is becoming different. Discordant tunes and in fighting within the APC in the state are not only disturbing but also an early pointer to the problems ahead of 2015. The recent development suggests that there are some elements within the party that believe in violence and arm twisting tactics to advance their political agenda.
In the last couple of weeks, Ogun State APC is embroiled in a crisis that bears semblance of the type that had afflictedPDP preparatory to the April 2011 general elections. As a result PDP lost the governorship election and majority of other elective offices to the then Action Congess of Nigeria(ACN). Since then, PDP in Ogun State is yet to recover and put its house in order. The crisis in the state chapter of the PDP was stoked by the struggle for the control of the party structure between former Governor Gbenga Daniel and former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
All attempts made by the National PDP to resolve the crisis failed. The party ended up with two parallel congresses held to pick candidates for the April 2011 polls in the state.
Daniel who lost out in the struggle, herded his supporters and candidates into the Peoples Party of Nigeria(PPN), a political party he floated at the eleventh hour.
Three years after, APC seems to to be treading this destructive path and with speed.
Analysts are worried that the silence of the national leaders on the crisis could have adverse effects on the party. They call for immediate intervention of the party’s national headquarters before it gets out of hand.
The crisis has been there since 2011 albeit in a smouldering form even though the party leaders had been pretending that crisis did not exist. But on January 9, the bubble burst when hoodlums stormed the secretariat of the APC on Leme, Abiola Way, Abeokuta and sacked its Harmonisation Committee meeting convened by Senator Gbenga Kaka.
Journalists at the venue for coverage of the proceeding were assaulted while the Harmonisation Committee members comprising National Assembly members from the state fled the troubled spot and later addressed reporters at the Oke – Ilewo Secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).
Senator Kaka(Ogun East), Senator Akin Odunsi(Ogun West), Senator Gbenga Obadara(Ogun Central) and other members of the House of Representatives were at the APC secretariat to inaugurate and announce membership of the state Harmonisation Committee.
The Committee was expected to work in harmony with party leaders to midwife the stages leading to the planned membership registration exercise as well as congresses at the wards, Local government and state levels.
The crux of the matter is that while the National lawmakers are gunning for return tickets, the state governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun on the other hand is desirous of cornering the same tickets for his loyalists. Hence, his alleged overt and covert moves to scuttle the chances of Obadara and his colleagues by scheming to foist only his loyalists as members of the Harmonisation Committee members.
The implication is that whoever gains the upper hand between the Governor and the national lawmakers in the formation of the committee would determine who votes at the congresses and ultimately, who emerges as party’s candidates in the coming 2014 general elections.
And barely two weeks later when the dust over the violence that witnessed the inauguration of the Harmonisation Committee was yet to settle, hoodlums wielding guns, machetes and clubs invaded the venue of a sensitisation andempowerment programme organised by Senator Obadara at Wasinmi in Ewekoro Local Government Area. They unleashed terror on party members. Many were wounded and taken to hospital for treatment Thus,the programme billed to take place ahead of the party’s planned registration exercise ended abruptly as people scampered to safety.
By the time the dust finally settled, Senator Obadara’s Police orderly, Sergeant Sunday Akinbode was wounded at the thigh near the pelvic region following gunshot from the thugs .
Since the outbreak of the violence, there has been accusations and counter – accusation between the State government/Governor Ibikunle Amosun camp and that of the members of the National Assembly from Ogun State on the ticket of the APC who see themselves as victims of the governor’s high- handedness orchestrated to muzzle them, and the desperate move to highjack the party structure for personal political agenda.
Senators Kaka and Obadara in separate fora accused the Governor Amosun of sponsoring political thugs to intimidate and harass them.
The duo in conjunction with their colleagues at the National Assembly, also faulted the recent endorsement of the Governor for a second term in office, dismissing it as “sham and an exercise in futility.”
The law makers accused the governor of planning to perpetrate a wave of political violence in the state and blamed it on them, ostensibly to achieve his political end.
But the Interim Chairman of the Party in the state, Alh. Tajudeen Bello, who described what is currently happening in the party as “a great surprise” and handiwork of few elements who are desirous of disrupting the peace of the state, alleged that the hoodlums were brought from Lagos by the National Assembly members.
In Bello’s reckoning, the state harmonising Committee initiated by Senator Kaka (Ogun East), Senator Akin Odunsi (Ogun West), Senator Gbenga Obadara (Ogun Central) and other members of the House of Representatives was a “charade.”
Bello who addressed reporters on account of the violence at the party Secretariat and festering crisis, blamed the occurrence on the former Governor, Chief Olusegun Osoba, whom he advised not to destroy a house he has built at a time he is expected to play the role of a “mediator.”
He argued that what was expected to be done according to the directive of the APC National body is preparation for membership registration and not Harmonisation Committee.
Bello said: “it was a great surprise that a new dimension is being introduced to politicking in Ogun State. Moreso from the so called responsible politicians that the people give very high regard. We got a report from my administrative staff at the Secretariat that some hoodlums came to attack them for no just cause and in the process, they wounded some of our staff there and I had to phone them to quickly vacate the office.
“This is a party that does not believe in violence and you would see the approach of the Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, on the issue of curbing violence and since he has been on the saddle of governance, you will bear me out that violence in all forms has been reduced to zero level.
“And everybody is now sleeping with his two eyes closed. It is so unfortunate that this sort of things would be happening in the days of progress, an era that we have never witnessed in the history of the state.
“However, immediately after the attack, we learnt that our revered leader Chief Olusegun Osoba also came with members of the National Assembly and addressed the press that he was spoiling for a fight, that he was ready for a fight.
“ I would not believe that he said so because he happened to be a builder of this party and we say what you build, you don’t destroy. As an elder statesman, every expectation is that he should always play a mediatory role in case of any issue whatsoever.
“The people can bear me out that the attack was carried out by hoodlums that came to invade the Secretariat. Generally we all believe that they came in through Kobape. You would agree with me that the vehicle came in through Kobape and we believe that they were brought by people who came from lagos, who had ulterior motive.
“Governor Amosun needs encouragement, he has been performing well and he is well received by the majority of the people. What then is the hue and cries about any issue that would distract the attention of the Governor from the laudable projects he is doing in Ogun State.
“This is a party that Nigerians want, a very matured party
Who ever that is a bad element in the party in the state and so far as they are exposing themselves, we leave them to the judgment of the people.
“We were peaceful in our state. Suddenly we woke and came under attack, I would not know the motive of the people that came. Thank God there were no serious casualty, they have been defeated, the Governor is moving well and charting the progress for the state.”
But the matter took a worrisome dimension during the week when in published letter by Governor accused Obadara and his group of plotting to destablise the state with an implication to undermine the party and stall the progress being recorded in the state by the administration.
Amosun made it explicitly clear that he was neither in competition with past leaders of the state nor members of the National Assembly from Ogun on the platform of the party, as every body’s duty is “clearly defined and distinct,”
said he had tried in vain to court the cooperation and support of the lawmakers.
Curiously enough, while the Governor attended Obadara’s mother’s burial last year and Senator Kaka’s function when he opened his Senatorial Office in Ijebu – Igbo, none of the Senators had attended any state event organised by Ibikunle led administration since inception.
The lawmakers in turn, fired back, accusing him of intolerance and plot to high-jack the party from the founding fathers.
In a personal letter addressed to him, the National Assembly members comprising three senators and seven House of Representatives legislators reminded him that the Ogun “APC is not his personal estate” that should be administered the way he deemed fit.
They reasoned that it was the intolerance of the Governor that sent party members, including former Deputy Governor of the state, Alh. Rafiu Ogunleye, away to another political party.
They also faulted his claim that they belonged to a group within the party, saying they have neither been involved in factionalisation nor operated outside the APC structure unlike his SIA’s group.
They accused Amosun of practising political harlotry as well as always striving to destroy any party he courts since his days in the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) to Congress for Progressives Change to the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and finally to APC.
The letter reads in part:”why do you always destabilize any political platform you join – PDP, ANPP, CPC, ACN and now APC? Why do you like politics of intolerance and exclusion?
Why do you like to disregard party supremacy anywhere you go?
“Could the above be the reason why you change party platforms always? You should please note that a political party belongs to all. APC in Ogun State is not your personal estate, where you can do whatever you want.
“We know your intolerant disposition . That is why your threat to deal with the leaders, who SELECTED you above others aspirants is now coming to pass. Your intolerant disposition made people like Alh Rafiu Ogunleye,a revered party leader and former Deputy Governor to leave the party.
“You claimed we are romancing the opposition. That is in your dreams. But If you think you can chase us out like others, you are greatly mistaken. That will not work with us. We are born progressives.We are known progressives.We have NEVER change political platforms in our lives.
“We are ardent believers of our late sage Chief Obafemi Awolowo.We are ardent followers of all our current leaders in the progressive family like Chief Bisi Akande, Aremo Segun Osoba,Gen Mohammed Buhari,Asiwaju Bola Tinubu etc and shall ever remain so.Long Live APC.Long Live the progressives.”
But beneath the crisis, according to analysts, is the hidden but the fuelling hands of Chief Osoba, who is believed to be using the Ogun indigenes at the National Assembly to prosecute a proxy war against Governor Ibikunle Amosun.
Many are of the conviction that the lawmakers are only acting the script of the former Governor and hinged the argument on the fact that the Akirogun of Egbaland had never rebuked his foot soldiers either privately or publicly.
It is being said that he never wanted Amosun to fly the party’s ticket in 2011 but was prevailed upon by the National leader of APC and its Interim National Chairman, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Chief Bisi Akande.
No fewer than nine aspirants including renowned journalist and publisher, Mr Kayode Soyinka, were jostling for the then ACN governorship tickets when Amosun appeared from the blue and clinched it.
.However, anxiety is rife in the state that the Presidency has started digging into the APC crisis in Ogun state ostensibly to deepen it and then precipitate its collapse while overture to Amosun is also being contemplated, but how far the APC can go with the crisis, only time would tell
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2015: ‘INEC should convince Nigerians of sincerity’
•Ohanaeze, PDP react
The governorship candidate of the Progressives Peoples Alliance (PPA) in last year’s election in Anambra State, Mr. Godwin Ezeemo, has said the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should convince Nigerians of its sincerity to conduct a free and fair poll next year.
He spoke yesterday in Awka, following the release of next year’s election timetable by INEC at the weekend.
Ezeemo said people were yet to get over the inadequacies of Anambra poll, which was marred by logistic problems.
“What happened on November 16 was terrible. INEC should prove its sincerity by being committed this time, by ensuring a free and fair poll and a level-playing field for candidates,” he added.
The PPA chieftain said sensitive and non-sensitive materials, computers and other equipment needed for credible elections must be on ground, adding that politics of money and inducement should be discouraged.
He said people should be made to see why leaders should be elected, based on performance, noting that INEC could set up a committee to cross-check preparations as an assurance of its sincerity.
Ezeemo said the early release of the timetable was commendable.
He said the commission should embark on an aggressive political education to enlighten the people.
“It is not just enough to draw a timetable and release it to the people, it should be backed with actions.”
Anambra State Chairman of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze, Dr. Chris Eluemunoh, hailed INEC’s early release of the timetable.
He said it was a proof of its readiness to conduct a credible poll.
Eluemunoh said INEC had a task of ensuring that the poll became the best, adding that politicians should complement its effort.
He said the electoral body should be independent and ensure that the structures needed for a credible poll were in place.
State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Kenneth Emeakayi, said INEC had shown its commitment in enthroning democratic structures by its early release of the elections schedule.
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Laudable judgment
• FG should comply with judgment on fiscal autonomy for judiciary
The recent judgment of the Federal High Court, Abuja, which ruled in favour of fiscal autonomy for the judiciary, is in tandem with the provision of the 1999 constitution. The judgment was delivered in a suit brought by the Judicial Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN). In his judgment, Justice Ademola Adeniyi ordered that the funds in the revenue account of the federation, due to the judiciary, should be paid to the heads of court, as envisaged by section 81(3) of the 1999 constitution. We add that other funds due to important organs of state, like the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), should also be paid directly to them.
It is absolutely in the common interest of our democracy that the provisions and intent of our constitution should be manifestly obeyed. A situation where the executive, with the connivance of the legislature, abuse the rights and prerogatives of the judiciary with respect to their constitutionally guaranteed independence must stop. Unfortunately, this flagrant abuse of our constitution is experienced at the federal and state levels of government. At the state, most governors view the judiciary as an appendage of their executive powers, and sometimes treat the courts as mere irritants. This too must stop.
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and the senior lawyers, who have thrown their weight in favour of the ruling of the court, must walk their talk. They can do this by defending the judgment if appealed against, up to the Supreme Court. We also urge the courts not to shy away from asserting their constitutionally guaranteed independence. The heads of courts must stand up to the abuse from the executive, and insist that monies approved in the budget for them, should be released in tandem with the country’s constitution.
The Attorney-General of the Federation and the states’ attorney-generals must also show interest in this matter. After all, they were first admitted as lawyers before they were appointed as attorney generals by the executive authority; so they have a responsibility to espouse the provisions of the constitution and vehemently defend it. Part of their responsibility to the profession should include standing up for the rule of law and defending the independence and integrity of the judiciary. Indeed, the constitution expressly regards attorney-generals as the Chief Law Officers, and it is only fair to live up their titles.
It is also expected that a financially autonomous judiciary will rise up to defend her integrity, by being uncompromisingly independent in its judgments. As Nigerians witnessed in recent past, there has been accusations of corrupt influence, within the judiciary; especially with respect to judgments on electoral matters. Our hope, and we believe that of many Nigerians, is that if the judiciary exercises its financial independence, it would be less influenced by the executive, and its judgments will help heal our political process.
For financial autonomy to be really meaningful, the judiciary must also purge itself of corruption, both of the judicial process and fund management. After all, financial autonomy would mean that the judges and other judicial workers will be better paid, and unless that transforms to comprehensive integrity of the whole process; then it will be of little value.
Again, financial autonomy should come with prudent management of resources by the heads of the court; as it would be tragic if the heads see such a development as opportunity to help themselves to the commonwealth of their constituency, as we see in the executive and legislative arms. In all, it is heart-warming that JUSUN has prodded a match to constitutionalism.
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Fayemi, Aregbesola tenures expire October, November
The tenure of the Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi will expire on October 15, while that of his Osun State counterpart, Rauf Aregbesola will elapse on November 25.
The Independent National Electoral Commission, relying on the provision of section 178(2) of the 1999 Constitution as amended, has set May 18 as the earliest date for Ekiti and June 28 for Osun governorship elections.
However, the commission has now picked September 15 and early October as new dates for elections in Ekiti and Osun States respectively. -
All eyes on INEC – Jega
The Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega, on Monday advised Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) and staff to be more vigilant and cautious as the country prepares for the 2015 general elections.
This information is contained in the INEC daily bulletin issued by the commission’s Deputy Director (Publicity), Mr. Nick Dazang, in Abuja.
The bulletin said that Jega gave the advice when he addressed the RECs and staff of the commission during the just concluded INEC retreat in Kaduna.
“All eyes are on us, our friends, partners, concerned citizens, and indeed, even our adversaries.
“We must be more vigilant, be more committed and strengthen our harmony at all levels to achieve the desired results,” the bulletin quoted the INEC chairman as saying.
Jega, the bulletin stated, urged management and staff to do their job with integrity, impartial and non-partisan manner.
He observed that in reviewing the commission’s sundry programmes and plans to be implemented this year, “it is evident that there will be gaps.”
It said Jega urged participants at the retreat to ensure that those gaps were filled and that fundamental things that needed to be done were implemented.
It stated that the commission would ensure that competencies were improved and that those who had the capacity to deliver more efficiently were given the opportunity to do so.
The News Agency of Nigeria recalls that it was at the retreat that INEC released the timetables for the Osun and Ekiti governorship elections and that of the 2015 general elections.