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  • Elections must hold in Adamawa, Borno, Yobe – PDP

    Elections must hold in Adamawa, Borno, Yobe – PDP

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said the 2015 elections must hold in the insurgency ridden northeastern part of the country, despite the security challenges.
    Adamawa, Borno and Yobe, three of the six states in the zone have been under emergency rule for over 18 months.

    The National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh, while featuring on a live radio programme in Abuja on Wednesday, insisted that there was no reason why elections should not hold in the insurgency ravaged states.

    Metuh said: “After all, these states which are being controlled by the opposition, had successfully conducted council elections at the peak of insurgency, while bye-elections to state and National Assemblies were held during the period. So what are they saying?

    “If the governors in the affected states have been alive to their responsibilities as being done by the PDP controlled Federal Government, the situation would have been brought under control.

    “Rather, they are busy attacking the President and our party as being responsible for the insecurity and those elections will not hold in the affected states. Elections must hold and PDP will spring surprises.

    “That is a shallow and callous thinking from the opposition. How can the President be sponsoring crisis in a country he is presiding over. Even the President made it clear on several occasions that his presidential ambition is not worth the blood of any Nigerian. President Goodluck Jonathan is a refined gentleman who will never have such a sinister motive against anybody or his father land.

    “What is regrettable is that those leading members of the main opposition, the All Progressives Congress that are making unguarded utterances against the President and the PDP were former members of our party who got to where they are today on our platform before they defected. One of them even said that if APC did not win the 2015 presidential election, they will not go to court but will go and form a parallel government.

    “We have made our position known in our press statement of yesterday that enough is enough. The PDP will no longer tolerate such barbaric attacks again. If any one of them tries again, we will go out in full swing and expose such a character.”

    Metuh said the defection of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, was an issue that bordered on morality, integrity and constitutional matters for Nigerians to decide.

     

  • 12 for governor in Ogun PDP

    12 for governor in Ogun PDP

    No fewer than 12 aspirants are jostling for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship ticket in Ogun State. Assistant Editor LEKE SALAUDEEN examines their strengths, weaknesses and issues that will shape the contest. 

    The governorship contest in Ogun State on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is gathering momentum. Ahead of the primaries, 11 aspirants have collected and returned the nomination forms to the  party secretariat in Abeokuta.

    The aspirants are Chief Kayode Amusan, Chief Anthony Ojesina, Prince Yanju Lipede, Dr Remilekun Bakare, Alhaji Sarafa Tunji Ishola and Dr Femi Majekodunmi, are Prof. David Bamgbose, Hon. Abiodun  Akinlade, Omoba Segun Adewale,  Prince Gboyega Nasiru Isiaka and Alhaji Rafiu Ogunleye.

    The aspirants are from the “four corners” of the state. Though the state is delineated into three senatorial districts of Ogun Central, Ogun East and Ogun West, the people see themselves more as belonging to four distinct zones. The zones are: Remo, Ijebu, Yewa and Egba, which have different ancestral and historical backgrounds.

    But, Ogun Central, which parades seven aspirants, seems to dominate. The aspirants from the zone are: Amusan, Ojesina, Lipede, Bakare, Majekodunmi, Sarafa and Bamgbose. Those from Ogun West are Isiaka, Akinlade and Adewale. Ogunleye is the only aspirant from Ogun East.

    Ogun State PDP, Chairman  Chief Bayo Dayo said every member of the party irrespective of the zone they come from have the right to seek the party’s governorship ticket. “We will provide a level-playing ground for all aspirants to test their popularity and whoever emerges from the primary becomes the party’s flag bearer. “As umpire, we don’t have preference for any aspirant; our concern is to conduct an open and transparent primary, so that the result would be acceptable to all aspirants,” the chairman observed.

    Dayo, an engineer, said: “At my age, I am not looking for political appointment from whoever becomes the governor on the platform of our party next year. The aspirant that would be chosen to fly the party’s flag would be the popular choice of members in Ogun State. We shall keep to the provisions of the PDP Constitution and the rules guiding the conduct of primaries, as stipulated by our party.”

    Observers believe the chairman’s observation was premised on the speculation that the Presidency has endorsed the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Dimeji Bankole, as the party’s consensus candidate for the election. The speculation has created a fresh division in the ranks of party stakeholders, particularly other aspirants, who are insisting that the authorities in Abuja do not have the right to impose a candidate on them.

    The two factions of the party in the state are already at each other’s throat over the matter. The Jubril Marins Kuye (JMK)-led faction is rooting for Bankole to emerge as flag bearer. The Presidency and the party’s national leadership, it was learnt, have keyed into this project. The group is also calling for the dissolution of the state executive installed by multi-billionaire, Prince Buruji Kashamu.

    But, the Mandate Group loyal to Kashamu has warned the Presidency against any action that would destabilise the party and mar its chances at the poll next year. It said: “This late hour scheme is meant to cause a fresh round of crisis after the party has been stabilised and it is now functioning very well. We wish to state that this is not the time for anyone to start using the names of the President, the Senate President/the National Chairman to cause disaffection and further any selfish interest.

    “Even, if they want to foist the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Dimeji Bankole, on the party and give him automatic ticket for the governorship election, they should not throw away the baby with bath water. Any attempt to do so would cause more grievous harm than it was meant to resolve.”

    The Mandate Group reminded those behind the “Dimeji-Bankole-Must-Be-Governor” campaign that it was the same Bankole who lost his re-election bid for the Abeokuta South Federal Constituency, which is made up of only one local government.

    A party stalwart explained why the Presidency and the PDP national leadership prefer Bankole as the party’s flag bearer. He said: “The party’s determination is to wrestle power from the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state next year. The first step in winning an election is to put forward a candidate that has integrity and whose credibility is not questionable. Given the performance of Governor Ibikunle Amosun in Ogun State, the PDP can’t afford to gamble in 2015 with a greenhorn or a local champion. We need a strong candidate that will deliver Ogun State to the PDP next year.”

    Dayo reacted that any aspirant that got his ticket from Abuja should expect the Abuja people to come and vote for him in Ogun State. Nobody can impose a candidate on us, he re-affirmed.

    It could not be ascertained, if Bankole had collected the nomination form. Dayo said the state secretariat is not aware as there is no record to that effect. He said, may be, he had collected the form from the national headquarters, Abuja.

    Since the inception of this dispensation, PDP governorship candidates in Ogun State have always emerged through primaries. For instance, in 1999, Senator Martins Kuye from Ogun East and Mrs. Titi Ajanaku from Ogun Central slugged it out at the primaries and Kuye emerged as the winner. In 2003, Gbenga Daniel, Doyin Okupe and Col. Shoda (rtd) from Ogun East; Chief Jide Taiwo and the late Mr Kunle Arojo from Ogun West; Femi Majekodunmi and Captain Raji from Ogun Central  participated in the primaries. Daniel won the shadow election. In 2007, it was Daniel versus Lekan Ojo from Ogun West. Again, Daniel picked the ticket. In 2011, Gboyega Isiaka, Gen. Idowu Olurin from Ogun West and Sarafa Ishola from Ogun Central contested for the ticket, which was eventually won by Olurin.

    Interestingly, some of the old contestants are among those vying for the 2015 governorship ticket. Below are the profiles of some of the aspirants:

     

    Dimeji Bankole

    He was elected into the House of Representatives on the PDP ticket in 2003 to represent the Abeokuta South  Constituency. He was re-elected in 2007. On October 30, 2007, Bankole was elected Speaker, following the resignation of Mrs. Patricia Etteh. He defeated his rival by 304 votes to 20. On his election, Banole said: “I am taking over the mantle of leadership at a very difficult time. I want an independent House that Nigerians will be proud of, this is my first task.”

    During his tenure as Speaker, the House ensured the return of about one trillion naira unspent funds by Government Ministries, Department and Agencies as part of annual budget process. On June 13, 2008, Bankole and his deputy, Usman Bayero Nafada were arraigned in court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over a 17-cout charge of misappropriation of N10 billion loan obtained by the House. However, they were discharged and acquitted by the court on January 31, 2012.

     

    Kayode Amusan

    He was elected a member of the House of Representatives in 2007. He declared his governorship ambition last year at a political gathering in Ijebu-Igbo, home of Ogun State PDP financier, Prince Kashamu. He is regarded as one of the confidants of Kashamu.

    Amusan who hails from Ogun Central is being groomed by the Kashamu group to split the Egba votes, where the incumbent Governor Amosun also came from. Kashamu once lamented that if Amusan, who is younger than Olurin, was fielded as the PDP governorship candidate in 2011, the fortune of the party would have perhaps, been better at the poll.

     

    Gboyega Isiaka

    He contested the PDP governorship primaries in 2011. Initially, he was declared winner, but INEC did not recognise the congress through which he emerged. He pulled out of the PDP and followed his godfather Gbenga Daniel to form a new party called Peoples Progressive Party of Nigeria (PPN) on which platform he contested and lost governorship election in 2011.

    Isiaka and his principal are back in the PDP. He is still eyeing the office. Many perceive Isiaka as a cool-headed young man, intelligent and hardworking, but his link with Daniel may work against him. This, according to analysts, was what marred his chances in 2011. The electorate saw Daniel in Isiaka in whatever direction he turned.

    To them, a vote for Isiaka was a vote for Daniel and, by extension, a call for the continuation of Daniel’s style of governance, perceived at that time as a debilitating yoke that should be thrown off.

    The people of Ogun State have not forgotten that while Isiaka was at the helm of affairs at the Gateway Holdings Limited, he did little or nothing, as the Managing Director, to stop the concession of assets of Ogun State.

     

    Sarafa Ishola

    He was Chairman of Abeokuta North Local Government from 1997 to 1998. He was appointed Special Assistant to the Minister of State, Finance (1999-2003). He was the Secretary to the State Government between 2003 and 2007.

    Ishola was among PDP stakeholders in the state that fell out with Daniel. President Umaru Yar’Adua appointed him Minister of Mines and Steel Development on July 26, 2007. He was dropped on October 29, 2008. Observers said his ouster was not unconnected with the disputes between him and Daniel.

     

    Abiodun Akinlade

    Akinlade is a member of the House of Representatives from Ogun West.  He returned to the House on the ticket of the ACN in 2011. Today, he is eyeing the Oke Mosan Government House, banking on the goodwill of  Yewa, who have  never produced governor since the state was created 38 years ago. He had contemplated defecting to the Labour Party where he thought the ticket would be given to him to actualise his goal. Analysts have identified impatience, immaturity, and unguarded optimism as his major weakness. According to observers, Akinlade would have had a good chance of becoming governor, if had waited in the APC till 2019. But, he wants to give it a shot once more on the platform of the PDP

     

    Anthony Ojesina

    He is a former Commissioner for Environment. Despite his unsuccessful attempt in 2011 to pick the ticket, Ojesina has his eyes fixed on Oke Mosan Government House in 2015. He has promised to harness the resources of the state to create jobs and industries. He plans to enhance the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and improve healthcare delivery.

     

    Rafiu Ogunleye

    Alhaji Ogunleye was the deputy governor to Chief Olusegun Osoba in the aborted Third Republic. Ogunleye, a chieftain of the APC, defected to the PDP last year. Lack of patronage from the Amosun Administration was the reason he gave for dumping the party.

    Ogunleye said his presence in the governorship race was borne out of his desire to rescue the state from the mal-administration. He said that with the abundance of human and mineral resources God endowed the state with and now that it had become a destination of choice for investors, there was need to strike a balance by voting in an experience politician of his status, who would create wealth and turn the state’s economy around.

     

    Yanju Lipede

    Prince Adeyanju Lipede was former Chairman of Abeokuta South Local Government. He is the brain behind the Omoba Nbo Foundation, which has changed a lot of lives in the state.

     

    Prof. David Bamgbose

    He was a former member of the Accord Party. He runs a private College of Education in Ogun State. His business cuts across real estate, agriculture and other international holdings. He is the Executive Secretary of Business Forum in Nigeria. He moved to the Accord Party in order to because the PDP will afford him the wide range to reach out to a large audience. His entrance to the race on the PDP platform will make the governorship race more difficult for him because those who he met on ground and have been nursing the ambition for quite some times. He is the most lettered among the aspirants.

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Three killed over Cross River PDP ward congresses

    Three killed over Cross River PDP ward congresses

    •Police: one person killed

    Three persons have been reportedly killed in Odukpani Local Government Area of Cross River State in the rescheduled ward congresses of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    An indigene of Akpap Okoyong, Ekpenyong Akiba Ekpeyong, who was to contest the elections, told reporters yesterday in Calabar, the state capital, that the congresses did not hold in his area.

    According to him, supporters of Senator Bassey Otu, like himself, were hunted by the thugs of rival aspirants.

    He said three people were killed yesterday.

    Ekpeyong said: “I am a contestant as a delegate. My form was bought in Abuja. But I want to tell you that there were no congresses at all in Okoyong. We did not even see the materials. What happened was that people suspected to be hired killers and thugs were hunting us down because we are Prince Otu’s supporters.

    “So far, three people, who were loyalists of Prince Otu, have been killed. One of them, Effiom Ayi, was stabbed to death by the thugs. He bled to death. They knew those of us who are Otu’s supporters. They were armed with guns and sundry weapons and started shooting when they saw Otu’s supporters. So many people sustained gunshot wounds.

    “The second person who died was the matron of the General Hospital in Creek Town. She was the wife of one of the coordinators of Otu – Akom Asuquo Ayi. She was coming back from work when she was told that they were hunting her husband’s people. She got down from the bike and before we knew it, a Dyna truck from behind knocked her down and she died on the spot. We want to believe the incident was arranged.

    “The third person who was killed was simply identified as Otu. He was macheted on the Okurikang Junction and pursued into the bush where he was killed. Since then, they have been vandalising houses and vehicles. My vehicle was vandalised.

    “Since yesterday, the thugs have been looking for me to kill me because I have been an ardent supporter of Otu. Since yesterday, I have been hiding in the bush. This morning, I ran to Calabar. As I speak to you, I cannot go back to the village because they are still looking for me. That is why I came to you for help, to let the public know so that my life would be saved.”

    Police spokesman Hogan Bassey said only one person was killed.

    He added that the command was investigating the incident.

     

  • APC’s criticism of President angers PDP

    APC’s criticism of President angers PDP

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) appears to be riled by the All Progressives Congress’ (APC’s) criticisms of the handling of critical national issues by the Goodluck Jonathan administration.

    A statement yesterday by the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh, said the party would no longer condone the “deliberate, unwarranted and sustained vicious attacks on the person and office of the President”.

    The statement said the PDP had been watching carefully as “the rank and file of the APC, the governors, party leaders, presidential hopefuls and even sidekicks”  compete “in a heavily subjective castigation of President Goodluck Jonathan with incendiary utterances, signposting its plans for the dastardly when it loses in next year’s general elections”.

    The PDP accused the APC of working in cahoots with the enemies of Nigeria “in an attempt to wreck our democracy and throw the nation into chaos, hence the urgency of the need to warn that enough is now enough.

    “We know that the aim of the APC is to set the stage for violence, instill fear in Nigerians, discourage them from actively participating in the electoral process, thereby giving room for them to perpetrate all manner of electoral malpractices  which is the only way they may hope to achieve political power in Nigeria.

    “This position is reinforced by their constant threat to cause violent pandemonium when they lose the elections”.

    The statement added: “Recall that today’s leaders of the APC had while contesting on different platforms in 2011, issued such threats and went ahead to precipitate an unprecedented electoral violence in which hundreds of innocent Nigerians lost their lives, yet, the same election was adjudged by local and international observers as the most credible in our recent history.

    The PDP recalled that on November 5 at Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, APC leaders asked President Jonathan to resign.

    “It is therefore clear that the APC is not preparing for elections, rather actively planning to scheme itself into power in 2015 using violent uprising as replacement for peaceful polls

    “Nevertheless, we wish to assure all Nigerians that the PDP is not willing to kowtow the APC in this road to infamy but will remain focused in jealously protecting the interest of the nation while serving and confidently campaigning and marketing its manifesto to Nigerians.”

  • Rivers PDP crisis: Anger as party stops 13 aspirants

    Rivers PDP crisis: Anger as party stops 13 aspirants

    •Princewill: It’s sheer madness

    The Southsouth Screening Committee for Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirants in Rivers State may have disqualified 13 of them, it was learnt yesterday.

    Though no reason has been given for the action, but the aspirants were declared ineligible on the allegation that they are not members of the party.

    It was also observed that all the aspirants who attended the screening are from the Kalabari, Andoni and  Ogoni axis.

    The Ambassador Obed Wadzani-led screening committee sat for three days at the party’s zonal headquarters, on Circular Road, Port Harcourt. Those that were asked to go home are Chief Bekinbo Dagogo-Jack; Nimi Walson Jack; Prince Tonye Princewill and Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs.

    Others are Prof. Dom Baridom; Major Lancelot Ayanya; Gabriel Pidomsom; Oseleye Dennis- Ojuka; Tamunosisi  Gogo-Jaja; Sampson Ngerebara and Mrs. Abietedogho Bob-Hart including Henry Odien Ajumogobia, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and former Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.

    Pawariso Samuel Horsfall; Capt. Sunday Nwankwo; Nyesom Wike; Bernard Mikko and Ibinabo Michael-West were said to have been given the nod to contest.

    Horsfall, Sunday and Mikko were among the 16 aspirants who pushed vigorously that the party should adopt the principle of zoning as enshrined in Section 7 3 (c) of the PDP constitution.

    It was gathered that those disqualified flew to Abuja yesterday morning to submit their petitions to the party’s national headquarters.

    The Spokesman for the Rivers Mainstream Coalition, Prof. Israel Owate, condemned the disqualification, saying that it is strange that the screening committee could describe such prominent members of the PDP as not being recognised by the party, after being cleared to purchase the expression of intent forms and nominations worth millions of naira.

    Princewill, said: “This is sheer madness. I am not a PDP member after I raised hundreds of millions for the party, donated a multi-million media centre to the national headquarters and participated in all affairs of the party I was invited to?

    “I am not a member but you collected millions for a PDP form. If this decision is true, this marks a new low in our state’s politics. This is a sad day for internal democracy”.

    “My options now are to: appeal, quit politics altogether; stay in PDP even though they say I am not one of them, or to go to another party, not the All Progressives Congress (APC), and run?”

    Most of the disqualified aspirants were said to have submitted their appeals.

    Meanwhile, 87 of the 92 governorship aspirants in four of the Southsouth states, have been screened, it was revealed yesterday.

    The Admiministrative Secretary of the PDP in the zone, Usen Edemeka said many of the aspirants, with a large number from Rivers State, were disqualified for not being active or card-carrying members.

    Edemeka, told reporters in an interactive session at the zonal secretariat of the PDP, off the Port Harcourt-Aba Expressway, stated that the disqualified aspirants still had the opportunity of appealing the decision before the members of the National Appeal Panel in Abuja today (Wednesday), as loyal members.

    He said the aspirants, who were screened, came from Delta, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River states, excluding Edo and Bayelsa states, where elections would not hold in 2015, in view of court judgments.

    Edemeka said: “Many of the governorship aspirants from Rivers, Delta, Akwa Ibom and Cross River states have been disqualified by the screening panel, for either not being active or not being card-carrying members of the PDP. A large number of the disqualified  governorship aspirants are from Rivers State, but all of them still have the opportunity tomorrow (today) to appear in Abuja, before the members of the National Appeal Panel.”

    Edemeka admonished the disqualified aspirants not to resort to self help, but to re-present their cases before the appeal panel, thereby showing total loyalty to the PDP, stressing that doing otherwise might attract sanctions.

     

  • Kano PDP in dilemma over consensus candidate

    Kano PDP in dilemma over consensus candidate

    Kano State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is worried bythe growing number of governorship aspirants.

    To avoid post-primary-crisis the party is opting for a consensus candidate, which is expected to be picked from the eight aspirants lobbying for nomination.

    Following the intervention of the leadership of the party, the aspirants have opted for a consensus arrangement to decide who would fly the party’s flag.

    A source said that the eight aspirants – Dr. Umar Musa Mustapha, Dr. Akilu Indabawa, Alhaji Sagir Takai, Mohammed Abacha, Abba Risqua, Engineer Bello Sani Gwarzo, Mansir Ahmad and Senator Bashir Garba Lado- have been meeting on the issue.

    The chairman of the party, Alhaji Rabiu Dansharu, stressed the need for unity at a meeting recently held with the aspirants in Kano.

    He explained that the party opted for consensus candidate to maintain harmony.

    However, following the consensus arrangement, one of the contestants, Senator Lado, who represents Kano Central District, has backed out from the governorship race and now aspiring for the Senate.

     

  • PDP clears Ngilari for Adamawa governorship race

    PDP clears Ngilari for Adamawa governorship race

    The national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has cleared Adamawa State Governor Bala Ngilari to join the 2015 governorship race.

    The party had insisted on zoning the ticket to Adamawa Central Senatorial District, ostensibly to pave the way for the zone’s preferred aspirants.

    Ngilari is from the Northern Senatorial District.

    Addressing reporters at the weekend, the governor said the clearance the party granted him to participate in the primaries was a sign of its confidence in his capacity to lead the PDP to victory in the election.

    Ngilari said the development would enable him to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people.

    According to him, the clearance is a victory for the party.

    The PDP, the governor said, would go into the primaries united and come out stronger, contrary to the rancour that his exclusion from the race would have caused.

    He said: “If the party had stopped me, there would have been a backlash that would have affected the fortunes of the party in the 2015 general elections. That’s what the party has averted by its mature handling of the issue.”

    The PDP, last week, sacked the state executive committee of the party in what many saw as a move to weaken Ngilari’s grip on the state chapter.

    But the decision was reversed a few days after.

    It was gathered that the leadership of the party was forced to retrace its steps, following pressure from PDP governors, Board of Trustees (BoT) Chairman Tony Anenih and former Defence Minister Gen. Theophilus Danjuma and frontline traditional rulers.

    The governor, who is a Christian minority, was also quoted to have said that he enjoyed the goodwill among a segment of Adamawa residents, including religious leaders of both faiths.

    He said: “Many Muslims and Christians from within and outside the state took up my matter because they saw injustice about to be meted out to me. The only way I can repay everyone is to be fair and ensure justice for all.”

    Ngilari hinted of a draft bill seeking collaboration between the military and local vigilance group in the counter-insurgency campaign.

    The bill, he said, would be forwarded to the House of Assembly in the next few days.

    On the Federal Government’s counter-insurgency efforts, he said: “The state and the military, working together, have made substantial gains. I appeal to members of the National Assembly to approve the state of emergency extension as requested by President Goodluck Jonathan.”

  • PDP councillors back Tukur to sue party over ouster

    PDP councillors back Tukur to sue party over ouster

    The Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP’s) Councillors’ Forum has supported the decision of the party’s former National Chairman, Alhaji Bamaga Tukur, to seek redress in court over his ouster.

    The forum’s National Chairman Collins Monday Onogu spoke yesterday in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital.

    He said: “The decision of the former chairman is a right step in the right direction as he was forced to resign his chairmanship, which is against the constitution of the party.

    “The former chairman was wrongly removed from office and it is illegal for someone that was not elected as the national chairman of the party to preside over the affairs of the party and even conduct the forthcoming primaries.”

  • ‘Cross River PDP congresses ‘ll be fair’

    ‘Cross River PDP congresses ‘ll be fair’

    •Ndoma-Egba: I won’t participate

    The Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP’s) electoral panel assured party members that today’s rescheduled congresses will be fair.

    At a meeting with the stakeholders at the party’s secretariat, the panel’s Chairman Chidi Egiogu said: “We are going to conduct this exercise in line with the electoral guidelines following due process. I expect you to handle this election in the spirit of sportsmanship by accepting whatever will be the outcome in the interest of this great party.”

    PDP State Chairman Ntufam John Okon assured the panel of cooperation.

    The ward congresses held on November 1 were cancelled by the party’s national leadership, following allegations that the result was doctored by members of the electoral panel.

    But Senate Leader Victor Ndoma-Egba distanced himself yesterday from the rescheduled ward congresses.

    In a statement in Abuja, Ndoma-Egba, who is seeking a re-election to represent Cross River Central, said he would not participate in today’s rescheduled ward congresses.

    The November 1 ward congresses in Cross River Central were among those being disputed.

    The senator reminded those who rescheduled the congresses that the November 1 congresses were sub-judice because they had become a matter of litigation at competent courts in the country.

    He said: “I will not participate in the rescheduled ward congresses for Cross River State by the PDP, scheduled to hold on November 24.

    “I know as a fact that the November 1 ward congresses in Cross River State is sub-judice as it is the subject of pending litigations before a Federal High Court in Abuja and the Cross River State High Court.

    “I also know that the court, before the congresses were rescheduled to the November 24, issued hearing notices to the parties to the suit that judgement will be delivered on November 24.

    “I am a lawyer of 36 years standing, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Leader of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Nigeria’s highest law-making body.

    “I, therefore, will not do anything to undermine the sanctity of our judicial process and the Judiciary.

    “Our institutions are far more important than my personal ambition; indeed, any person’s ambition.

    “Our democracy will never be complete without the rule of law. We must, therefore, give the Judiciary her place and respect.”

     

  • Dispute over C/River ward congresses: Court delivers judgment tomorrow

    Dispute over C/River ward congresses: Court delivers judgment tomorrow

    •PDP elders reject results’ cancellation

    A Federal High Court in Abuja will tomorrow deliver judgment in the suit filed against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for purportedly tampering with the results of the ward congresses conducted in Cross River on November 1.

    Some members of the party led by Jones Tangban are by the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/824/2014, seeking to restrain the PDP, its National Chairman, Adamu Mu’azu; the National Secretary, Prof Wale Oladipo; the party’s NWC and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from taking any step on the list of winners produced at the congresses.

    The plaintiffs are praying the court for an injunction restraining the defendants (except INEC) and their agents from taking any step or acting on any purported report or list of candidates purporting to be the list of elected delegates at the ward congress held in Cross River State on November 1, 2014 from any person or persons other than the Electoral Committee.

    They also urged the court to restrain INEC from recognising those named as elected candidates based on the purported lists of winners.

    Some chieftains of the party in the state have protested the purported cancellation of the ward congresses results.

    Their spokesperson, Ojong Bassey, said the cancellation was “unacceptable to the people as the elections were free and fair. There was no form of violence whatsoever; something that was attested to by all the stakeholders.

    “We read the story in some national newspapers just like our people but we do not want to believe that our party will take that decision, even after it is clear that the matter is in court.”