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  • Ondo 2016: APC chieftain killed in Owo

    Mr Afolabi Olaposi, a chieftain of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Owo, Ondo State, was killed by unknown gunmen on Thursday night in Owo.

    The Party said in a statement issued by its Publicity Secretary, Mr Abayomi Adesanya, on Friday in Akure that Olaposi was shot dead on his way home after attending a meeting of the party in preparation for the governorship election.

    “Olaposi, who is one of the leaders of our party in Igboroko Ward 1, Owo, was also an ardent supporter of our Governorship Candidate, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN).

    “He was a perfect gentleman who was committed to the development of the party in Owo and Ondo State in general.
    “The assailant also went to the house of Chief Jamiu Ekungba, an APC aspirant in the Sept. 3 Primary, and vandalised seven vehicles in his compound.
    “Ekungba was not to at home during the attack.
    “We believe those calling for the postponement of the election and threatening a repeat of 1983 violence were behind these dastardly acts.
    “We call on security agents in the state to fish out those behind these acts and ensure the protection of our people before, during and after the election,’’ Adesanya said.
    Speaking in a telephone interview, the Spokesperson for Ondo State Police Command, DSP Femi Joseph, said: “ I don’t have the details of the incident now, but the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) in charge of the election will speak about it later’’.

  • Ondo Decides: INEC unfair to Jegede, says Mimiko

    Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo state on Friday said the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has not been fair to the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Mr. Eyitayo Jegede SAN.

    The governor said the commission is attempting to foist injustice on the people’s of the state by insisting to go ahead with the election.

    Mimiko, who addressed a press conference said the PDP is yet to have agents for the poll.

    It will be recalled that the Appellate court on Thursday declared Jegede the authentic PDP candidate by dismissing the ruling of the lower court, which earlier directed the INEC to recognise Mr. Jimoh Ibrahim as the party candidate.
    Mimiko also disclosed that the Commission has not released the collation tags for Ward Collation officers for PDP Ward agents.

    He wondered how INEC expects the PDP candidate to campaign round the local governments, raise money for the elections and also screen his agent.

    The governor alleged that concerted efforts have been made by forces within the APC to prevent the emergence of a credible and electable candidate for the PDP in the state.

    Mimiko further disclosed that the Voters Register which should have been given to the candidate was just released 48 hours to the election , contrary to Electoral Law which stipulated a 30 days to the poll.

  • Ondo: INEC rejects PDP’s demand for election shift

    Ondo: INEC rejects PDP’s demand for election shift

    Ondo State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Eyitayo Jegede yesterday led a march on the Akure office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), demanding the shift of  tomorrow’s  governorship election .

    The factional leader of the PDP, Senator Ahmed Makarfi and the chairman of the state’s chapter, Mr. Clement Faboyede, also demanded a shift.

    The INEC rejected the request, insisting that all is set for the election. But the electoral agency agreed to accept a list of party agents from Jegede. It will discard the list given to it by the sacked candidate of the party, Mr. Jimoh Ibrahim.

    Jegede returned to the ballot on Wednesday after a Court of Appeal panel in Abuja nullified the judgment of the high court which favoured  Ibrahim.

    Jegede returned to the warm embrace of his supporters and political associates who he addressed at his campaign secretariat at Ijapo in Akure before the march on the INEC office.

    He told INEC that his list of party agents had not been received, adding that his faction had also not got a copy of the voter register.

    Jegede, resented a letter to Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) Segun Agbaje, demanding a postponement.

    He said: “ We want INEC to shift the date of the election to enable me enjoy the privileges the candidates of other parties enjoy in the election.

    “Before now, my party has written to inform INEC on what is needed to be done in line with the provision of the law. They have not replied the letter. There are three conditions for election postponement, these conditions are, violence, natural disaster or any other emergency. What we have here is a legal emergency; it must be attended to; it is a legal emergency.”

    Part of the letter reads: “It follows from the foregoing that any list of agents purportedly forwarded by one Poroye and his fellow pretenders who had been illegally parading themselves as the state executive members of the PDP, Ondo State cannot be regarded as authentic.

    “As it is, the Peoples Democratic Party has not forwarded the list of its agents to the commission.

    “Whichever way one may look at the situation on ground, the governorship election of Ondo State slated for 26th November, if conducted, will undoubtedly be in breach of the Electoral Act 2010 as amended.

    “It is in light of the foregoing that I request you to defer the governorship election for Ondo State for at least 30 days so as not to conduct the election in flagrant violation of the Electoral Act 2010 as amended.”

    But the REC said there was no going back on tomorrow’s election. He said the commission was ready for the election and there was no way it could shift it.

    Agbaje said:” We are going to conduct the election on Saturday; there is no going back. It is not the fault of the INEC that parties are having intra-party crises. It will cost Nigeria a lot of money if the election is postponed.

    “We have prepared well for the election; the sensitive materials are already out and to postpone the election, it will cost the nation a lot of money.”

    The materials which were supplied directly from the vault of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), in Akure include ballot papers, result sheets and other forms that would be used to collate the results.

    Agbaje said adequate security had been provided to escort the materials to the local government areas.

    He promised that the commission would defend the party if there was any post-election litigation over the matter

    INEC Deputy Director Nick Dazang said the commission would only be working with a list of agents nominated by party, stressing that it is not in  INEC’s place to determine the loyalty of such agents.

    He said: “ Section 45 of the Electoral Act stipulates that it is the party that shall nominate agents and forward their names and photographs to the commission two weeks before an election. Besides, going by the timetable for this election which was issued six months ago, the notice for the election was served three months.

    “ Given the above, it is not INEC’s remit to determine the loyalty of the agents submitted by a party.”

    Makarfi said the extension of the election would enable the PDP to “screen and select agents for the exercise”.

    He described the Court of Appeal judgment that restored Jegede to the ballot as a “massive step forward”, but argued that the party deserved “a little more time to select its agents in the interest of fair play”.

    “Victory comes from God. However, a bit of extension of time will be fair, especially considering the fact that it is only now that the party will begin the process of selecting its agents,” Makarfi told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Jos, Plateau State.

    Faboyede told reporters in Akure that the electoral law says political parties must submit names of their agents seven days to the election day, the same law also gave INEC 30 days to the election to give political parties the voter register list.

    The chairman said for INEC to conduct an election, the poll should be extended by 30 days to allow PDP receive its voter register and submit names of its agents.

    He said if INEC could postpone the Edo State governorship poll “over an invisible security threat, Ondo State election ought to be shifted because they are visible issues”.

    “As I’m addressing you now, the INEC is yet to take the list of the party agents from the party. The one earlier submitted has been declared illegal because the imposed executives led by Biyi Poroye have been declared illegal by court.

    “Hence all actions carried out by this executive is illegal and what is happening now is the handiwork of INEC by obeying the wrong order of justice Abang which the appellate court described as judicial abuse and rascality.

    “We are calling on INEC that PDP in Ondo State has not submitted a list of its party agents”.

  • Why reconciliation failed in Ondo APC, by Abraham

    Why reconciliation failed in Ondo APC, by Abraham

    A governorship aspirant during the controversial Ondo State All Progressives Congress (APC) primary, Dr. Olusegun Abraham, spoke with EMMANUEL OLADESU in Lagos on why the party failed to resolve its post-primary crisis. Excerpts: 

    What’s your assessment of the political situation in Ondo State?

    There are many parties vying for the governor in Ondo State. The major parties are about two or three. The principal parties are the APC and the AD. So far, you will realise that, since the crisis of the primary election, the morale of the people has virtually gone down in the state. You cannot see the enthusiasm or expectation that a new government is coming. The people are confused. They are demoralised. Irrespective of what some people are saying. We need to stress the fact. We don’t know who will now deliver the state from the present bad economic situation. We pray the state will have an opportunity to elect a good leadership that will resolve its economic problems and transform the state. We need transformation in Ondo State.

    What was responsible for the failure of reconciliation in your party? Is it that reconciliation was not contemplated or it was ignored?

    Everything has a time. It was not contemplated. It was completely ignored. It was as if all they have done was a fait accompli. They have contempt for the people. Before the primary, the party was in good shape. The party was up and doing. Series of meetings were held with the aspirants, even before my endorsement by the National Leader. President Muhammadu Buhari convened a meeting with us. There was another meeting held between the aspirants and the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party. The SGF addressed us and asked us to maintain calm. After the primary, when the crisis erupted, it was expected that the party will call the aspirants together, especially the four or five aggrieved contestants. The party did not do that. We expected that the president would intervene, like the one the SGF did. It was not forthcoming. It was like they had done what they wanted to do and so, the process of reconciliation was ignored. When they insisted on their position, the people had made up their minds. Well, we have to thank the governor of Kebbi State. He is a gentlemen. One or two others intervened, but in a clandestine way. They believe that they had taken their own decision and it was left for you to team up with them. That is the spirit with which they have viewed it. That’s why they have not been able to make any move about reconciliation. For me, it is very simple. You must follow the process of reconciliation, either as is done in our culture and the religions of Christianity and Islam. The process are all well stated. If you follow them, there will be no problem. There will be no fight. There is nothing you gain by fighting. If we are united, it will be easy for us to win the battle. But, if we are disunited, the battle will not be easy for us to win. We must have a process of reconciliation, which we will call genuine reconciliation. This Ondo experience is a test for the party. This is the mechanism that is lost in the APC. As a loyal member, I have suggested that we needed  reconciliation mechanism in the APC. I have faith in genuine reconciliation. In any case, genuine reconciliation must be based on truth and justice, not on fallacy, not on deceit, not on stealing, not on power ego. If you want reconciliation, you must be humble. We must come to the table with clean hands. We must correct the wrongs. These are the elements of reconciliation. It is the same in the country. But, a proper reconciliation must start at the local, to the state and national level. Today, there is no reconciliation in the country. That is why there is no focus on the proper way to progress. If you go to the National Assembly, it is not only divided along party lines, it is also divided along tribal lines. People see themselves as Southwesterners, Southeasterners, Northeasterners, Hausa, Yoruba. That’s not how to develop a country. This country is a single entity. It must be seen as a country where everybody will grow together. We are like rams locking our horns against one another, instead of being doves carrying the banner upwards. There is no reconciliation in the country because there is no truth; there is no justice. There is no way the country can prosper in the absence of righteousness. With all the money we have made from oil, with the human capital we have, the intelligent people we have, dynamic people, dynamic women in business, today, we are one of the poorest countries in the world. Our foundation is laid on unrighteousness, deceit, absence of truth, exploiting one another, greed, covetousness.

    As the stage is set for the Ondo State governorship election, what is your advice to the voters?

    With the situation on ground, I have made up my mind to vote according to my conscience.  I will urge the people to vote according to their conscience. I will urge my supporters to vote according to the dictates of their conscience. And remember that everything you are doing, you are responsible to God. So, you must vote according to your conscience.

    There is the rumour that the National Leader of your party has directed that you and other aggrieved aspirants should mobilise your supporters to vote for the AD governorship candidate, Chief Olusola Oke…

    I have had so much about the rumour. But, what I will say is that I am not the spokesman for Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, our National Leader. So, if anybody wants any information about that, he should try to see his Press Secretary. He will enlighten you on the issue.

    How can Nigeria overcome its economic challenges?

    I will advise the President to get key economic players with experience in place. We must behave in a way that will make foreign investors to have confidence in our economy. We must package local entrepreneurs and direct their energies and resources to the export drive. Holding on to the exchange rate is gone. There must be creative ideas to bring foreign capital into the country. The two most critical aspect being neglected should be developed. You must boost the capital market. You can’t continue to build infrastructure on loans. Our mortgage industry must be built.

  • My plan for Ondo, by ACPN candidate

    My plan for Ondo, by ACPN candidate

    The governorship candidate of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN) in Ondo State, Chief Adetuwo Ogunjumelo, has said the state needed a refinery as an oil-producing state.

    Ogunjumelo was reacting to insinuations that the state has been unlucky to have good leaders since its creation.

    He said the only industry in Igbotako, Ilaje Local Government Area, the hometown of the disputed governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Jimoh Ibrahim, and Major General Olu Bajowa, was established by him.

    He said: “Let any of the governorship candidates in Ondo State point to any industry that has added any economic value to either the state or his local government. As a chartered accountant and Chairman of Korede Microfinance Bank since 1992, I promise that anybody in Ondo State who is above 70 will be provided with free medical care with allowances.”

    Ogunjumelo, who is the first chartered account in Okitipupa division, said no civil servant would be owed salaries.

    He added: “Without the federal allocation, our government will create jobs within the first two years and also be able to pay.”

    He promised to revive the oil palm and Oluwa Glass Industries.

    He would declare a state of emergency in the agricultural sector in the state in order for Ondo to be restored as an oil producing state.

    Ogunjumelo: “I have a role for women in my government and that was why I have appointed a female deputy. I also want to assure you that 45% of those that will form part of the State Executive Council (SEC) will be women. In the area of housing, being a chartered accountant, I will create a kind of mortgage that will enable a level one officer in the state’s civil service to own his own house which he or she can pay within 15 to 20 years. What Ondo needs in the area of education is proper funding of the tertiary institutions so that they can carry out a proper research that can add value to the people of the state.”

  • Call for shift of Ondo ‘guber’ poll irresponsible

    SIR: The Committee for the Protection of People’s Mandate (CPPM) condemns in strong terms the irresponsible, insensitive, callous, reckless, anti-people and anti-democratic call for the postponement of the 2016 Ondo State gubernatorial election by some 20 political parties.

    By this call, these political parties have exposed themselves as unworthy of the description of a political party established with the purpose of contesting election to assume public office for the good of the society.

    The political parties have further lent credence to the long held suspicion that they are mercenaries for hire for political manoeuvring by the highest bidder to the detriment of public good which ordinarily ought to be the focus of their cardinal programme.

    However, we must commend the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for being resolute, responsible and faithful to its constitutional oath and the Electoral Act by being focused on its commitment to a credible election despite the blackmail, provocation and intimidation by enemies of democracy.

    We also want to commend the security agencies for the professionalism and neutrality exhibited in the discharge of their responsibility and urge that they step up their game to curtail the evil plot to taint the credibility of the forthcoming Ondo State gubernatorial election through the provision and deployment of water-tight security before, during and after the election.

    We call on the electorate in Ondo State to be vigilant, calm, orderly and resolute in the exercise of their civic duty on Election Day and refuse to be used as tools of violence by persons and groups who do not wish our country well.

    We wish the good people of Ondo State a successful and credible election which will go a long way in deepening our democracy and engendering societal peace to the glory of God and benefit of mankind.

     

    • Nelson Ekujumi,

    CPPM, Lagos.

  • Why power must shift in Ondo, by Oke

    Why power must shift in Ondo, by Oke

    Ondo State Alliance for Democracy (AD) governorship candidate Chief Olusola Oke spoke with reporters in Akure, the state capital, on his agenda for the Sunshine  state and issues that will shape the contest. Excerpts:

    Why do you want to govern Ondo State?

    I contested in 2012 to be governor. there were good reasons for me to contest. These reasons have only multiplied, they have increased, expanded and therefore, so long as those conditions are still prevailing and multiplying, I will be failing in my responsibilities not to come out at this time.

    Ondo State is a state generously loved by God. If we look at the resources available to us, we should be leading; a shining example to others in Nigeria.

    I am talking in terms of natural resources, human resources, agriculture resources; whatever resources you can imagine that would help the development of a state, Ondo state has it in abundance: the largest rich human resources, they are all there, but we are not doing well.

    Why is the state poor?

    A critical assessment of Ondo State today would show that the people of Ondo State are poor. They are not poor in their heads but in their pockets. And I have come to appreciate that over time that poverty of the pocket could also affect the poverty of the head.

    If you traverse the entire landscape of Ondo State today; you cannot find one industry that is producing anything. The concomitant effect of that is that employment cannot be generated anywhere. Government has come to a standstill in terms of the employment of its citizens.

    We need to diversify our economy to be able to get our citizens engaged.

    For seven years running, graduates from the universities have come out in their hundreds of thousands every year with no employment opportunities. The effect today and humiliatingly, most of them have become okada riders, drivers, beggars and idling away at cheap joints of the communities. This is not good for us, it is the recipe for revolution any moment and therefore, I cannot fold my arms.

    You look at our infrastructure, they are in a state of decay, industrialization is zero and these are also affecting the educational sector, the health sector and the total being of the citizens of Ondo State. When you have situation like this, it calls on men who have the fear of God, who have vision, who have direction and who have mission to come on the stage.

    How will you solve these problems?

    I believe that, given the opportunity to be the governor of Ondo State, I can start to re-direct the development of the state. And the starting point will be to examine what is on ground. I already have the database on what is on ground; how do we utilize what we have to solve the problems confronting us. Look at the various industries mid-wifed by the last regime which are in different and varying stages of completion that were abandoned. For whatever justification, I do not share the view that those resources should be allowed to waste away. If they are completed, not only would they add value of their own that can be disposed off at anytime for consideration, they will help in solving the problem of unemployment; they will help in creating wealth for our people; they will help in adding value to the communities where they are situated.

    I believe further that anyone who must lead Ondo State at this crucial period must have the fear of God, must be one that is well known to the people and that knows the length and breadth of the state, and I fit into these descriptions.

    That is why I cannot relent until we sing a new song in Ondo State; until we have a new lease of life; until we have a new sense of direction; that is only when I can say okay, let others run. For now, it is a man that fits my description that Ondo State needs.

    What are the issues that will shape the contest?

    The aggregate opinion of the people of Ondo State is that the present situation is no longer tolerable; they want a change. They want a change that will bring about creation of wealth, that will bring productivity back on the table; a place where a labourer will earn his wages for work done; that will see the emergence of industries in this state; not government initiative alone, but private engagement in flourishing business in the state.

    The people want reduction in poverty level; they want job opportunities; they want infrastructural decay to be addressed. They want our schools to wear good look; they want the transport sector to be organized and less chaotic as it is today; they want the coastline resources to be developed and exploited. They want those abandoned industries to come back on stream. So the desire of the people of Ondo State fits into my dream, it fits into my manifestoes and we are on the same page as to the Ondo we desire and deserve.

    How do you hope to achieve all of these lofty ideas and projects?

    We are not unaware that the economy is in bad shape and Ondo State is worse for it. And of course, it has to be so, when we had enough we never build a solid foundation for the future. Lagos State is said on record to have the fifth largest economy in Africa today because while there was abundance, preparation was made for the future. We didn’t prepare and now we have been caught unaware and therefore, we need a lot of vision to be able to bring about all the good things I have said.

    First, the major burden is debt burden. I may not be able to be too specific but I am told and I readily believe that we are down with over #108billion indebtedness in Ondo State. That is a major challenge to the incoming government. But government liabilities are valid assets. Government assets and liabilities are valid assets; no government can take asset and run away from liabilities. But the way to manage it and reduce the effect on what we are doing is to go back to the negotiation table and reschedule some of those debts. Not in terms of the avoidance of liabilities but to give space so that the amount committed to servicing the debt can be reduced and whatever you get from there can be ploughed back to face the challenges of government Two, we have a lot of assets that are wasting away. The various industries or factories started by the last administration which were nearing completion in their different stages, we should do something urgently to complete them. And then we can bring in private investors, after proper evaluation. The truth of the matter is that despite the depreciation of those assets, the state of our economy, that is, the devaluation of Naira has also helped in enhancing their value; am sure today that if they valued, we will still have a lot of funds tied down there. We can bring in private investors, value and then ratio out the equity participation of the partners and that will leave some money for government to run. They are revenue generating ventures; government will be able to get tax from workers, from some of the facilities and help government to raise more money.

    You can’t ask Ondo State people that area already badly affected by the economy to pay more taxes. Even the existing ones on ground presently, we may have to be review to give it human face.

    Now, the Olokola project is there. we intend to bring that back on the table and it will be able to solve tremendously the problems confronting Ondo State at the moment. The cassava processing industry in Ikoya is there. So we look at the entire projects together, they will all help to begin to re-shape our economy. Because all you need to do at all time is to generate wealth for the people. And of course, the micro-economy, that has to be looked at properly because that is what sustains every economy. We will look at the artisans, in what way can we help them to make their job easier. Once there is productivity, those ones will bounce back automatically because the productivity itself has a way to reverberating and touching on every aspects of the economy.

    So, with vision, with commitment, all these are achievable and once they are achieved, Ondo State will smile again.

    How do you intend to work with the Federal Government to ensure that the people of Ondo State enjoy the dividends of democracy?

    That is why you need somebody like me who operated at that national level, who, therefore, will be able to leverage on his experience to synergies with other institutions; other government levels to be able to get the best for Ondo State What is important at this moment is to get a leader with vision, one with a sense of direction who must have a solid foundation at home upon which you want to leverage. Ondo state is part of Nigeria and good enough, I can say that of President Muhamamdu Buhari. we have a President whose politics is nationalistic and therefore the argument that I want to have a government that will not have access to the centre is not correct. Being isolate depends on the vision and direction of the leadership. I have operated at the centre for decades; therefore, I know where it happens there. It is to have the knowledge, the experience to be able to access what belongs to us; to be able to interact. Of course, I am not becoming governor of Ondo State to fight the federal government. Mine is to collaborate, to synergies with government agencies to get the best for Ondo State So what we get from there is not a question of which party you belong but a question of your vision, direction and the sincerity of purpose.

    If the federal government is aware that you are running a transparent system, whatever is your right you get. Some of the time you don’t get what you are entitled to because our system are not transparent, it’s totally translucent so when they cant see through what you are doing, even when you have a right there, you cant access it. The moment you open your books and are accountable and transparent with what you are doing and able to assemble the egg heads in Ondo state together, you will access anything you are entitled to irrespective of whichever party you belong to.

    In a nutshell, it all depends on the type of leadership in a state. The excellence you see in Lagos was attained when it was under the suzerainty of the ACN, not because it was part of the federal government controlled states. That foundation was laid a long time ago. So it’s a question of leadership really. What the leaders of Lagos state saw years ago which we didn’t see is to our chagrin today.

    So, if you have a man with vision, even regional collaboration would assist us to build a new Ondo State. I assure you that rather than being a minus, it will be a plus for us in Ondo State that the AD which had once ruled this state with great achievements is back on stream. Political party is just a platform to win election; performance in government is another thing entirely. It is the personality. An office is made up of the character of the man that is occupying it.

    Why the choice of the Alliance for Democracy?

    All Alliance for Democracy (AD) is our party. It is a party that has ideal; that is built on principle; that is built on vision. Our founding fathers have kept faith with the people of the State; they have keep faith with the Yoruba people and therefore I believe that is a very solid platform at this critical time when we want to critically transit and there are conflicting and irreconcilable philosophies and ideologies which I will not advance the cause of the people of Ondo State.

    I need to seek a platform that is known to them, that believes in them, that is structured to advance and protect their interests, AD is that party I found in the process.

    There is this apprehension among the electorate that the poll may be rigged…

    It is not the people that are scared but the politician that are scaring them by saying that if it is only one vote that is cast, they will be declared as winner.

    This is ridiculous; our electoral process has grown over time with the introduction and insistent on the use of card readers, and how much of manipulations can anybody do?

    I laugh at politicians who believe that this is APC primaries which they can rig with ease. We are talking of election and so this threat of “we will rig and win at all cost” is a misplaced one. I am busy campaigning out there, while they are in the comfort of their homes and offices threatening the people that they will rig.

    People that want to rig election must be ready for the consequences of such. But this election is not available for rigging. Power now resides with the people; they will determine who they want. When you delude yourself believing that you can do as you like and shut the gates of mercy to mankind, the consequences are there for you.

    I have examined the electoral regulations, I have examined what happened elsewhere and I have not seen how the issue of federal might has come to play.

    And we have a President; we must give it to him, who does not believe in this rigging his party members are preaching.

    Those who believe in snatching boxes, they should know that that belong to the past; those who think that results can be manufactured for them to write and announce will face the consequence.

    I am relying on the strength of the people of the Ondo State for this election, that is why till the last day, I will relate with them. Let them come out and cast their vote and let somebody come and attempt to manipulate it. They are jokers, the concept of federal might doesn’t exist anywhere; it is an illusion.

  • Appeal Court voids ruling asking INEC to recognise Ibrahim

    Appeal Court voids ruling asking INEC to recognise Ibrahim

    The Court of Appeal in Abuja has voided the October 14 ruling of the Federal High Court, Abuja in which the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was ordered to substitute the name of Eyitayo Jegede (SAN) with that of Jimoh Ibrahim as candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Saturday’s governorship election in Ondo State.
    In a unanimous judgment, a three-man panel led by Justice Ibrahim Saulawa, resolved all the seven issues determined against the respondents and held that Justice Onkon Abang was without jurisdiction to have conducted the proceedings leading to the ruling of October 14, 2016.
    The judgment was on the appeal by Jegede against the October 14 ruling, on which basis INEC replaced him with Ibrahim as PDP candidate.
    Justice Saulawa, in the lead judgment also held particularly, that the trial court breached the appellant’s right to fair hearing as he ought to have been made a party in the case where the orders made were meant to affect him.
    The court however did not make a consequential order directing INEC to replace Ibrahim with Jegede following the voiding of the ruling of October 14.
    Justice Saulawa noted that the court was only asked the void the proceeding of the lower court, which it did, but that it was not asked by the appellant to make a further order.
    In a second judgment on the appeal by Ahmed Makarfi and Ben Obi, the Court of Appeal upheld the appeal and set aside the June 29, 2016 judgment of Justice Abang, which recognised the Ali Modu Sheriff factional leadership of the party as the PDP’s true national leadership.
    The court held that the judgment obtained by some factional state Executives of the PDP in Southwest states, was fraudulently given without as proceedings were conducted in the absence of the Makarfi group, against whom the judgement was directed.
    The two judgments were in the appeals marked: SC/551C/2016 and SC/551/2016/2016
  • Ondo: Police deploy 26,000 as AD alleges rigging plot

    Ondo: Police deploy 26,000 as AD alleges rigging plot

    Oke Campaign: Amosun, El-Rufai, INEC official behind plot 

    Aides defend governors

    The Police will unleash a massive security cordon around Ondo State from Friday – 24 hours to the governorship election and on Election Day.
    For deployment are 26,000 personnel, three helicopters, 12 Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) and 20 gunboats.
    Inspector-General of Police Ibrahim Idris told a stakeholders’ meeting in Akure, the state capital, yesterday that each polling unit will be manned by five policemen, besides others from sister security agencies.
    Movement will be restricted from midnight on Friday, he said, adding that security men attached to political office holders and VIPs would be withdrawn.
    Also yesterday, the Alliance for Democracy (AD) alleged a rigging plot, spearheaded by some governors and top federal government officials.
    The party alleged that a plot was being hatched by the ruling party to compromise the Independent national Electoral Commission (INEC) to manipulate the outcome of the election in favour of All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate Rotimi Akeredolu.
    Yesterday, the IG said: “We will dominate areas especially the waterways together with the Navy. We are going to support the deployment along the major ways with 20 gun boats. We are going to ensure we have security along the waterways.
    “We are going to use dogs and horses especially to protect the INEC headquarters.
    ”We are going to reinforce the police officers with three helicopters to cover each senatorial district.
    ”We are bringing 300 vehicles to assist us in patrolling the state.
    “Purely for this election, we are going to deploy a commissioner of police for each senatorial district and the whole operation is going to be coordinated by Deputy Inspector General Police of Operation”.
    “Each of the police officer for the election will carry a tag. So if we see you outside with police or military uniform in an area that you are not supposed to be even as a serving police officer or a serving military, you are going to be arrested and be dealt with”.
    He warned the electorate to shun violence before, during and after the election, and urged the public to cooperate with security agencies in ensuring a peaceful conduct of the election.
    “We cannot do it alone because security is the responsibility of all,” he said
    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) restated that the election would hold as scheduled.
    INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu told the stakeholders including party chiefs, community leaders and traditional rulers, that the yet to be resolved legal crisis involving one of the parties contesting the election, did not warrant a postponement.
    He said: “I wish to assure you of INEC’s preparedness and neutrality. We are not unaware of the partisan insinuation of bias in the nomination of candidates by one of the political parties.
    “We are equally aware that party primaries for the selection of flagbearers by some of our political parties tend to be rancorous.
    For this reason, while each activity under our election time table is tied to a specific day, the conduct of party primaries, including the resolution of disputes arising from the nomination of candidates, was allocated a whole month from 18 August to 19 September 2016.
    ”However, where an intra-party dispute becomes the subject of litigation resulting in specific orders of court, INEC shall obey such orders until they are set aside by a superior court. We remain guided by this principle.
    ”We have taken every step within the powers of the commission to ensure that the election this weekend is held as scheduled and that it is free, fair and credible.
    ”We have also been assured by the security agencies that they are equally prepared to ensure that there is a conducive atmosphere to support the elaborate plans we have put in place for the success of the election.
    We are fully prepared. We see no reason to activate the provisions of section 26 or section 36 of the electoral act and there is no other ground in Law to postpone an election”.

  • Ondo: Supreme Court approves delivery of withheld judgments

    Ondo: Supreme Court approves delivery of withheld judgments

    •Jegede, Mimiko, others hopeful

    The Supreme Court yesterday directed the special panel of the Court of Appeal hearing the various appeals on the disputes over the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its choice of candidate in Ondo State to resume its suspended proceedings.
    A five-man panel of the apex court, led by the Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Walter Onnoghen, in a unanimous decision, shortly after ruling on a motion by some members of the PDP state executives in the Southwest, led by the party’s factional chairman in Ondo, Biyi Pororye, directed the panel of the Appeal Court to resume its suspended proceedings and deliver pending judgments and rulings.
    The three-man panel-led by Justice Ibrahim Saulawa, had on November 18 suspended proceedings to await the directive of the Supreme Court on when to resume proceedings.
    Justice Saulawa had, while announcing the suspension, said judgments in the appeals by the substituted PDP candidate in Ondo, Eyitayo Jegede (marked: CA/A/551C/2016) and that by factional leaders of the party, Ahmed Makarfi and Ben Obi (CA/A/551/2016) and other businesses of the panel in relation to all the cases will be suspended pending the decision of the Supreme Court on a motion of stay of proceedings pending before it.
    At the Supreme Court yesterday, Beluolisa Nwofor (SAN), lawyer to the nine appellants/applicants, led by Poroye, applied to withdraw the motion he had filed, asking the Supreme Court to order a stay of proceedings at the Court of Appeal pending the determination of his client’s appeals.
    The respondents’ lawyers, including Wole Olanipekun (SAN), did not object to Nwofor’s application to withdraw his motion, but urged the court to dismiss it instead of striking out the application, on the grounds that parties have joined issues on the motion.
    In a brief ruling, Justice Onnoghen dismissed the motion for stay of proceedings, a decision supported by other members of the five-man panel.
    Nwofor argued his other motion seeking, among others, an order voiding the proceedings on the Appeal Court’s panel conducted on November 16 (during which it heard the appeal by Jegede); an order disbanding the panel and an order restraining its members from proceeding with its scheduled judgments.
    He argued that by refusing to stay proceedings, members of the panel – Justices Saulawa, Ignatius Agube and Goerge Mbaba – “have betrayed their oath of office in their deliberate refusal to be bound by the principles of judicial precedent and stare decisis and refused to be bound by their own rulings delivered on November, 8,2016 in appeal marked: CA/A/402/2016: Peoples Democratic Party v. Chief Benson Akingboye and ors, and CA/A/402A/2016 by Sen Ahmed Makarfi vs Chief Benson Akingboye and ors.”
    Nwofor argued that the panel’s continued conduct of proceedings, despite being aware of an appeal pending at the Supreme Court, the pendency of a motion for stay of proceedings and the fact that the appeal had been entered, amounted to “ flagrant and blatant breach of the doctrine of lis pendens, stare decisis and violation of required respect of the Supreme Court”.
    In their counter arguments, the respondents’ lawyers, including Olanipekun, faulted Nwofor’s motion and urged the court to dismiss it on the grounds that its prayers were not only ungrantable, the inclusion of the names of the Justices of the Court of Appeal as individual parties in the motion was wrong.
    Ruling, the court upheld Olanipekun’s and others’ arguments. It dismissed the motion for lacking in merit, describing the motion as part of the applicants’ pranks to continue to frustrate proceedings in the case
    The court awarded N500,000 cost in favour of each of the respondents. It also ordered Nwofor to pay personally N1m as cost to each of the Justices of the Appeal Court’s panel for suing them in their personal capacity.
    Justice Onnoghen, in the lead ruling, said: “I have observed that earlier in the proceedings this morning, learned senior counsel for the appellants/applicants, B.E. I. Nwofor (SAN), had applied for the withdrawal of the motion for stay of proceedings in the lower court, which motion was consequently dismissed by the court as issues had been joined by the parties thereto before the withdrawal.
    “The above being the case, it is very clear, and I agree with the submissions of learned senior counsel for 1st respondent, Chief Olanipekun (SAN) that the dismissal of the motion for stay of proceedings, on which the orders in this motion in question were predicated, has rendered the prayers 1 to 3 threrein academic and liable to be discountenanced.
    “Secondly, it is on record that applicants have joined the 5th to 7th respondents, who are honourable Justices of the Court of Appeal, who were constituted by the appropriate authorities of that court, to hear and determine the matter in the lower court, in their personal capacities in this motion. They were not parties before the lower court and whatever they did was in their official capacity, as it is judicial officers performing their official duties.
    “The joining of the Justices in this manner is not only an attempt to intimidate and scandalise the court, but, to put it mildly, in very bad taste. And should consequently be discouraged. It is settled law that judicial officers enjoy immunity in the performance of their judicial functions and are not liable to be subjected to this kind of intimidation.
    “It is on record that applicants have earlier petitioned an earlier panel constituted to hear the matter, as a result of which the present panel was constituted by the President of the Court of Appeal. If the applicants are allowed, in the circumstance, to continue with these pranks, there will be no end in sight, and it will not augur well for the development of democracy and administration of justice in this country.
    “In the circumstance, I find not merit, whatsoever in the motion. I consequently dismiss same with the cost of N500,000 to each set of the respondents represented by Chief Olanipekun (SAN) and Robert Emukperuo in each of the applications.
    It is further ordered that the cost of N1m is hereby awarded in favour of 5th to 7th, 3rd to 5th and 4th to 6th respondents respectively in each of the application in SC/947/2016, SC/950/2016 and SC/952/2016 to be paid personally by BEI Nwofor (SAN),” Justice Onnoghen said.
    The Acting CJN, who noted that 14 appeals were before the court in relation to the issues pending before the Appeal Court’s panel, directed that the panel be allowed to continue and conclude all pending proceedings before it to allow for a clearer picture of the main issues to be resolved by the Supreme Court.
    “The lower court must proceed with the hearing and determination of the matters before it forthwith. The panel (of the Court of Appeal) is to continue with the matters forthwith. A decision mmust be reached in the cases. If you come back here, we will confine ourselves to the main business,” Justice Onnoghen said.
    He adjourned till November 24 for hearing of the pending appeals.
    The Justice Saulawa-led panel may deliver its suspended judgments and rulings today.
    The Nation learnt yesterday that in view of the fact that time was of the essence and that the Ondo governorship election will hold on Saturday, the Court of Appeal panel cannot afford to delay its decisions any further.
    A lawyer in the case, who did not want to be named, said: “We are hopeful that the panel will render its decisions tomorrow (today). This is because of the need for us to have this issue resolved before the election.”
    At the Court of Appeal in Abuja yesterday evening, the ceremonial court, being used by the panel, was locked. An official said that parties would be notified when the panel is ready to deliver its judgments. He did not rule out the possibility of the judgments being delivered today.