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Tag: Minority Leader

  • Akpabio resigns as minority leader

    •Two commissioners, others receive senator in Uyo

    Senate Minority Leader Godswill Akpabio yesterday resigned his position.

    The Akwa Ibom Northwest senator communicated his resignation to Senate President Bukola Saraki in a letter dated August 4th, 2018.

    The letter, entitled “Resignation as Senate Minority Leader”, was signed by Akpabio himself and addressed to the Deputy Senate Minority Leader, Senator Emmanuel Bwacha.

    It reads:  “May I extend to you and my dear colleagues in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Senate Caucus of the 8th Senate of the Federal Repubic of Nigeria the compliments and best wishes of my constituents and I.

    “This letter is to formally inform you of my resignation as the Senate Minority Leader with effect from August 4, 2018.

    “Let me thank the Senate Minority leadership, our distinguished colleagues and our great party, the PDP for the opportunity to lead the caucus in the last three years.”

    Apart from Saraki and Bwacha, Deputy Senate President, Senate Leader, Minority Whip, Deputy Minority Whip, all senators, Clerk of the Senate, Clerk of the National Assembly and PDP national chairman got copies of the letter.

    Senator Akpabio yesterday arrived in Uyo ahead of his officiola receorion into the APC yesterday.

    A large crowd of both PDP and APC supporters were at the Akwa Ibom International Airport, Uyo, singing and dancing to welcome him back home.

    “The crowd was something else, very unprecedented,” a former aide of the senator said.

    According to online newspaper Premium Times, two commissioners serving under Governor Udom Emmanuel – the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Victor Antai, and the Commissioner for Labour, Productivity and Manpower Planning, Ibanga Akpabio, were at the airport to receive him.

    Two House of Representatives members, Emmanuel Ekon (Abak federal constituency), and Emmanuel Akpan (Ikot Ekpene federal constituency) were also among those who received Mr Akpabio.

    State lawmaker Nse Ntuen, representing Essien Udim, and Deputy State Chairman of PDP Michael Afangideh was also at the airport to receive the senator.

    A former commissioner for works, Don Etim, was there too.

    The senator, while driving in a motorcade from Uyo, through Ikot Ekpene, to his hometown in Essien Udim, made stopovers at some road intersections across the state to wave at jubilant crowd which gathered to welcome him.

    He spoke with reporters at the airport, giving them a clue to what may have prompted his decision to leave the PDP.

    He reportedly said that he had served the PDP faithfully and loyally and had helped build the party but that the party has chosen to reward those who had previously abandoned it when it mattered most.

  • Leo Ogor back in the House

    Leo Ogor back in the House

    Minority Leader, Leo Okuweh Ogor (PDP Delta) returned from a long illness- related absence to the floor of the Green Chamber Thursday.

    His return caused many to heave a sigh of relief that at long last, viable and credible opposition is back on the floor of the House.

    Many members could not hide their pleasure to see the PDP Caucus leader on the floor and went to greet him where he was seated.

    There were lots of cheers and backslapping as colleagues welcomed him back.

    For over four months the members of the House had waited with bated breath on hearing the news that Ogor had partial stroke and had been flown abroad for treatment.

    The lawmaker, who spotted a dark native attire with a cap to match seemed to have lost a little weight but was however jovial as members took turns to felicitate with him.

    Member missed Ogor who was fond of threatening any member that defected from PDP with court action and loss of seat. But in his absence quite a number of members have defected to APC with protestations coming from the Deputy Minority Whip, Hon. Binta Bello Maigari, and Hon. Tajudeen Yusuf and others, who stood in his shoes to opposed any member defecting on behalf from the party.

    Recall that Ogor was reportedly out in mid-October 2017 to a Switzerland hospital for partial paralysis and he has been there for the last four months.

    Ogor returned about a month ago to the country but had been under the radar since carefully avoiding public appearances until his appearance at plenary Thursday.

  • House Minority Leader Ogor is recovering, says PDP Caucus

    There is no cause for alarm as regards the health of the Minority Leader in the House of Representatives, Leo Okuwe Ogor , a prominent member of the PDP Caucus in the Green Chamber, Tajudeen Yusuf, has said.

    Yusuf, who spoke in a chat yesterday, added that Ogor is recovering and did not suffer from partial paralysis as being reported.

    Though he refused to disclose the exact nature of Ogor’s ailment, he assured that there is no cause for alarm as regards the health of the Caucus leader.

    According to Yusuf, the issue that was reported happened at the beginning of the recess.

    The PDP Caucus leader, he said, is recuperating and will soon be back in the Chamber.

    Ogor, according to media reports, is said to be struck by partial paralysis and is undergoing treatment in a Switzerland hospital.

    The report stated the lawmaker’s speech was distorted by the stroke and a speech therapist was called in to enable him recover his speaking ability.

    But Yusuf debunked the report.

    His words: “What has happened to him is not stroke. I’m not aware that it’s stroke. He fell sick and was rushed to the hospital and I have spoken to him three days ago.”

    “This is not news. That’s long ago; it happened the very day we closed for the recess. But he is getting better now and will soon return.”

    Ogor’s absence became noticeable when two members of the PDP – Ahmed Tijani (Okene/ Ogori-magongo Federal Constituency Kogi State) and Zephaniah Jisalo(AMAC/Bwari Federal Constituency) – defected to the APC on the floor of the House on October 5.

    Though there was uproar, Ogor’s voice was conspicuously silent. Usually he would be the first to lead the attack.

  • APC expels Rivers Assembly’s Minority leader

    APC expels Rivers Assembly’s Minority leader

    The Rivers State chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC) has expelled the Minority leader of the House of Assembly, Benibo Anabraba, for alleged anti-party activities.
    Anabraba, a lawyer, represents Akuku-Toru Constituency II.
    In a statement yesterday in Port Harcourt, the state capital, by its Chairman, Davies Ikanya, APC said Anabraba was expelled for alleged anti-party activities, disobedience and negligence to obey the party’s lawful directives.
    The statement said: “The State Working Committee (SWC) of the APC in Rivers State, having invited you (Anabraba) three times to its meetings to discuss the allegations of your anti-party activities, disobedience and negligence in carrying out lawful directives of the party, and your refusal to attend any of the three invitations, the SWC, in its meeting of January 27 resolved that you are guilty of anti-party activities and guilty of disobedience and negligence in carrying out lawful directives of the party.
    “Your wilful and consistent refusal to attend the proceedings on the three occasions you were invited has confirmed your disrespect to constituted authority of the party.
    “The party considers your wilful and deliberate refusal to make yourself available to answer to the allegations against you as sufficient confirmation that the allegations against you are true.
    “Therefore, the party, pursuant to relevant provisions of the constitution of APC (October 2014, as amended), particularly Article 2l (A) ii, iii, hereby expels you from the party forthwith.”
    Efforts to get Anabraba’s reaction were unsuccessful last night.
    Calls to his mobile phone were not answered while he also did not respond to a text message sent to the number.

  • Economy: Adeosun must appear before Senate-Saraki

    Economy: Adeosun must appear before Senate-Saraki

    Finance Minister, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, was Wednesday asked to appear before the Senate on Thursday to brief the upper chamber about measures the Federal Government is taking to shore up the country’s dwindling economy.

    The directive followed the failure of the minister to brief the Senate on Wednesday as scheduled.

    Senate Leader, Mohammed Ali Ndume, informed the Senate in plenary that Adeosun sent a message that she was held up at the Federal Executive Council meeting and therefore could not attend the scheduled briefing.

    Ndume said that Senate should give the minister another date to appear for the briefing.

    Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio who seconded the motion observed that it was Adeosun who picked the Wednesday date and wondered why she failed to honour the invitation.

    Akpabio said that the minister should have taken cognizance of the fact the FEC meeting would hold yesterday.

    He added, “We would not take it as a slight and disrespect for the Senate. We will take it as a mistake on her part but it should not repeat itself again because the minister ought to have known about the FEC meeting.”

    Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki ruled that Adeosun must be here tomorrow (Thursday).

    Saraki noted that the issue of the economy is very important and that Nigerians needed to be informed about what is happening in the economy.

    He said, “She must be here tomorrow of today at the end of council meeting because we are here. These are important to Nigerians to know what is happening.”

    The Central Bnak of Nigeria Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele took his turn to brief the Senate on Tuesday on the same subject matter.

  • APC senators kick as Akpabio becomes Minority Leader

    APC senators kick as Akpabio becomes Minority Leader

    •Bwacha, Aduda, Olujimi are principal officers

    Senate President Bukola Saraki yesterday named occupants of the four principal offices reserved for the minority Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Red Chamber.

    They are: former Akwa Ibom State Governor Godswill Akpabio as the Minority Leader; Emmanuel Bwacha (Deputy Minority Leader); Philip Aduda (Minority Whip) and former Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Abiodun Olujimi (Deputy Minority Whip).

    But All Progressives Congress (APC) senators kicked against Akpabio’s choice, describing it as a violation of the ranking rule, which states that only returning lawmakers can occupy principal offices.

    Akpabio is representing the Akwa Ibom Northwest district, Bwacha (Taraba South); Aduda (Federal Capital Territory); Mrs. Olujimi (Ekiti South).

    Announcing the officers, Saraki said the four principal officers’ introduction followed their nomination, endorsement and presentation to the Senate leadership by the PDP Caucus.

    Kicking against the announcement of Senator Akpabio as the Minority Leader, Senator Kabiru Marafa (Zamfara Central) faulted the selection.

    He said that the selection violated Senate Standing Rule which stipulates that nomination for principal officers’ position should be based on ranking.

    Before the Senate President asked the Sergeant-at-Arms to lead the opposition principal officers to their respective seats, Marafa, raised a point of order.

    He cited Senate Order 13 (1) and (2) that opposed the appointment or election of non ranking members to the position of principal offices.

    He insisted that the PDP Senate Caucus violated the Senate Standing Order by nominating a non-ranking Akpabio as a Majority Leader.

    Marafa moved for the reversal of the nomination and subsequent appointment, but Saraki mandated Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu to respond to Marafa’s opposition.

    Ekweremadu, (Enugu West) explained that PDP did nothing wrong in nominating Akpabio,  saying that it was not Marafa’s business who PDP Senators chose to pick as their leaders.

    He added that the composition of the members of the leadership of opposition in the Senate is entirely the business of PDP Senators.

    Saraki said that Marafa was “crying more than the bereaved and therefore ruled him out of order.

    Insisting that relevant Senate rules were complied with in the nomination, Ekweremadu said urged the upper legislative chamber to uphold it.

    Based on the Ekweremadu’s submission, Saraki upheld Akpabio’s nomination and the other three officers.

  • Minority Leader: Court refuses to restrain Saraki, others

    Minority Leader: Court refuses to restrain Saraki, others

    Justice Gabriel Kolawole of the Federal High Court, Abuja, yesterday refused to restrain the Senate President Bukola Saraki and 17 others from bypassing the Senate’s standing rules in the appointment of the Minority Leader for the Eighth National Assembly.

    Two members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) – Alaye Don Pedro (Ward 8 Akuku-Toru Local Government Area, Rivers State) and Okechukwu Ibeh of Umukegwu/Umuopia in Ide Ato Local Government Area, Imo State – had, in an ex-parte motion sought to restrain Saraki and 17 members of the PDP Southsouth Senate Caucus from choosing the Minority Leader outside the provision of Order 3(2) of the Senate Standing Order 2015 (as amended).

    The plaintiffs contended that the alleged plot by some individuals to make former Akwa Ibom State Governor Godwill Akpabio (a first term Senator) the Senate’s Minority Leader, was in violation of Order 3(2) of the Senate Standing Order 2015 (as amended).

    Named with Saraki as respondents are Akpabio, Nelson Effiong, Bassey Albert, Emmanuel Paulker, Ogola Foster, Ben Murray Bruce, John Owan Enoh, Gershom Bassey, Rose Oko, James Manager, Peter Nwaoboshi, Ighoyota Amori, Clifford Ordia, Matthew Urhoghide, George Thomson Sekibo, Olaka Nwogu and Osinachukwu Ideozu.

    Ruling yesterday, Justice Kolawole refused the plaintiffs’ prayer for “an order restraining the second to 18 respondents from selecting or appointing the Minority Leader by a procedure in breach of Order 3(2) of the Senate Standing Order 2015 (as amended) pending the determination of the substantive suit.”

    The judge also refused their request for an “order prohibiting the first respondent from accepting, recognising, announcing or giving effect to the appointment of a Minority Leader of the Senate, whose appointment is in breach of Order 3(2) of the Senate Standing Orders 2015 (as amended) pending the determination of the substantive suit.”

    Justice Kolawole, who noted that the plaintiffs were neither members of the Senate nor contestants for the position of Minority Leader, said he could not grant their prayers because they failed to establish the interest they sought to protect.

    He said being members of the PDP from Imo and Rivers states was not sufficient to warrant granting their prayers.

    The judge declined the plaintiffs’ request for the abridgement of time within which the respondents could file their responses to the substantive suit. He also declined to grant accelerated hearing of the main suit.

    Justice Kolawole, however, granted the plaintiffs’ prayer for substituted service of court documents (processes) in relation to the suit through substituted means by media publication. He directed that the processes be published with an enrolled copy of his orders.

    He adjourned to October 5 for mention, but said the case file would be returned to the court’s Chief Judge for reassignment when the court resumes from vacation.

  • Minority Leader: Crisis in PDP Senate caucus rages

    Minority Leader: Crisis in PDP Senate caucus rages

    The tension arising from the alleged choice of Senator Godswill Akpabio as the Minority Leader of the 8TH Senate by the national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is yet to subside, reports Assistant Editor, Remi Adelowo

    The crisis is subdued, but raging nonetheless. Just as the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is still agonising on how to resolve the lingering animosity between its lawmakers on the sharing of principal offices in the National Assembly, the minority Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) caucus has also caught the crisis bug over the same issue.

    A few weeks ago, there were unconfirmed reports that the national leadership of the PDP had allegedly settled for Godswill Akpabio, a first term senator as the Minority Leader of the Senate.

    This development was contrary to an earlier decision that the Senator representing Delta South, James Manager, should head the minority caucus of the Red Chamber.

    Akpabio’s choice, it was gathered, has not gone down well with many PDP senators, some of whom are questioning the rationale behind the decision of picking a non-ranking lawmaker to head his more senior colleagues.

    Manager is not only a third term senator; he is perhaps the next most ranking PDP senator after the immediate former Senate President, David Mark, who is currently serving a record fifth term. Mark, according to sources, had declined to take up the offer for “personal reasons”.

    The position of the Minority Leader had been zoned to the South-South and Manager, being the highest ranking senator from the region was expected to fill the position.

    But that was not to be, as Akpabio’s camp was alleged to have kicked against two lawmakers from Delta State, Manager and Leo Ogor as the Minority Leaders of the two chambers of the National Assembly respectively.

    Unlike Ogor, who was unanimously chosen by his colleagues to be their Leader, sources revealed that the PDP caucus in the Senate is divided between Akpabio and Manager, who has allegedly vowed to resist what he describe as an attempt by party leaders to impose Akpabio on the rest of his colleagues.

    With the National Assembly still on recess, feelers indicate that the two senators are using the opportunity presented by the break to lobby their colleagues for support.

    This is happening against the backdrop of an allegation that one of the two senators has allegedly voted several billions of naira to finance the project of his election as the Minority Leader.

    Prominent members of the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) are being accused of receiving huge gratifications, which allegedly influenced their shifting support from Manager to Akpabio.

    The acting National Chairman of the party, Prince Uche Secondus, is also caught in the eye of the storm, as he is being accused of railroading other members of his committee to back Akpabio, who was elected as senator following the expiration of his two terms as governor of Akwa Ibom State.

    The Nation however learnt that fresh moves have commenced to resolve the imbroglio before the Senate resumes on July 21. Expected to spearhead the peace mission is Mark and the acting Chairman of the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT), Dr. Haliru Mohammed.

    But if indications within the top hierarchy of the party are anything to go by and all things being equal, Akpabio may likely get the nod as the new Minority Leader of the Senate.

    Speaking on why the former governor is rated above Manager, a source said: “Yes, Manager is a ranking senator, but he does not boast Akpabio’s national image, who served as the first chairman of the PDP Governors Forum (PDPGF). Most importantly, he has a deep pocket which he would always put at the party’s disposal at this most challenging period.”

    Is Akpabio waiting to be crowned or will Manager pull a last minute surprise to emerge as the Minority Leader of the 8th Senate? The answer to this poser would be provided when the Senate reconvenes later this week.

  • Battle for Minority Leader tears PDP senators apart

    Battle for Minority Leader tears PDP senators apart

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Senate caucus is engrossed in a bitter struggle for Minority Leader. In the race are Senators Godswill Akpabio, James Manager, George Sekibo, and James Enoh. So far, the contestants have shunned the party’s advice to close ranks and give peace a chance. Assistant Editor GBADE OGUNWALE reports. 

    Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senators have drawn out their swords. They are battling themselves over the choice of principal officers.  Lobbying by the zonal caucuses started barely 24 hours after the party’s national leadership announced the sharing of the  positions, based on the six geo-political zones.

    The PDP leadership, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, zoned the Senate Minority Leader to the Southsouth. According to the party, the  Deputy Minority Leader should come from  the Northeast zone. The party zoned the Minority Whip to the Northcentral. The Southwest will produce Deputy Minority Whip.

    The battle for the Majority Leader is fierce. Four senators from the Southsouth are in the race.

    The contenders are James Manager (Delta South); George Sekibo (Rivers East); John Enoh (Cross River Central); and Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom Northwest). If the Senate standing rule is to take precedence, the contest should be narrowed down to Manager and Sekibo. The two senators are serving their third term. Enoh and Akpabio are first timers. However, Enoh has served three terms in the House of Representatives, which, according to the Senate rule, gives him an edge over Akpabio.

    But, there were indications at the weekend that the balance may be tilting in favour of Akpabio, who, according to the Senate rule, is the most junior of the four contestants.

    A Senate source said that many of senators from the Southsouth had thrown their weight behind the former Akwa Ibom State governor. According to the source, who pleaded for anonymity, the PDP leadership has indicated its preference for Akpabio through its body language. “That is the main reason some the senators appear to be backing him,” the source said.

    When our correspondent sought to confirm the party’s position on the matter, Metuh said the party had left the decision for the caucus.

    Metuh, however, added that, if the senators eventually pick Akpabio, the party would respect their decision. “If the senators decide to choose Akpabio, the party will respect their decision and accept his nomination. But, we are not imposing him on them because we are not autocratic like other parties,” he added.

    The scramble for the job has attracted the attention of former President Goodluck Jonathan and his wife, Patience, on the one hand, and Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu and Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike on the other. A Senate source said while the Jonathans are rooting for Sekibo, who is from Rivers State as the former First Lady, Ekweremadu and Wike are favourably disposed to Manager’s aspiration. Wike’s preference for Manager over Sekibo may be a pre-emptive move to stave off possible rivalry in the Rivers State PDP. According to sources, Wike is trying to avoid a clash with Sekibo over who becomes the  party leader, if the senator becomes a principal officer. On the other hand, Ekweremadu is said to have put in a word for Manager on grounds that he is the most experienced in the chamber among the contestants.

    A meeting of the four contestants called by Ekweremadu at his residence over the last week failed to resolve the matter. None of the contenders was ready to step down. Akpabio, sources said, argued at the meeting that the PDP Southsouth caucus in the House of Representatives had already settled for Hon. Leo Ogor as Minority Leader. “Akpbabio said  since Ogor is from Delta State, it would not serve the interest of the party to pick Manager, who is also from Delta, as Minority Leader in the Senate”, added the source.

    The battle for other principal offices zoned to other regions is not fierce. The contestants, according to party sources, have agreed to sort things out amicably. The PDP leadership did not pick candidates for any of the positions. Rather, the party threw the race open to senators in the zones to sort things out among themselves.

    The party, however, reminded the senators to take into consideration the Senate standing rule on ranking, which confers seniority on senators according to the number of terms they have spent in the Senate.

    The party also advised that gender and religious factors should be considered. Going by the party’s directive, the senators have up to Wednesday to conclude the process and communicate their nominations for the offices to the party.

    At the time of filing this report, the contestants were still intensifying their lobby for the positions as none has agreed to step down.

  • How LP beat Accord to Minority Leader, by Oyo Speaker

    Oyo State House of Assembly Speaker Michael Adeyemo has said majority of the 32-member of the Eighth Assembly chose to suspend the rule of the House to allow a Labour Party (LP) candidate  emerge as Minority Leader.

    Adeyemo, who spoke to The Nation at the weekend, said the lawmakers did so to throw the position open.

    The House is made up of 18 members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), eight Accord and six LP members.

    Olagunju Ojo defeated Olalekan Olagunju to emerge the Minority Leader.

    He scored 21 to beat his rival’s nine.

    Political observers had expected that Accord would produce the Minority Leader having produced higher minority  lawmakers.

    The development attracted some criticism.

    But Adeyemo said the constitution allows suspension of any rule of the House to allow a majority decision sail through.

    He said: “There is no controversy. People decided to go with what we have in the House rule, forgetting that the same rule makes provision for the suspension of any rule for you to do certain things.

    “If you want to do certain things, you suspend the provision of the House rule that will stop you from doing it.

    “Election of principal officers of the House is the business of the members of the House either from the majority or the minority. All members will participate.

    “So, when it comes to the issue of election of minority leader, our rule says it should be from the minority party with the highest number of members but a member raised a motion that the rule  be suspended.

    “Why? They wanted the whole thing to be thrown open. So, what we did was in accordance with the rule of law.

    “All members approved the suspension of the House rule and we went for voting. And the members decided who should be the Minority Leader.”

    Adeyemo also promised that the Assembly would surpass the record of the Seventh Assembly as members have agreed to work together, irrespective of their political affiliations.