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Tag: PDP

  • INEC, PDP, Wada urge Supreme Court to dismiss case

    INEC, PDP, Wada urge Supreme Court to dismiss case

    •Judgment on February 21

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Kogi State Governor Idris Wada yesterday urged the Supreme Court to dismiss an appeal filed by a chieftain of the party, Jibril Isah Echocho.

    Echocho is challenging the legitimacy of the December 3, 2011, election, which produced Wada as governor.

    At the hearing yesterday, INEC, PDP and Wada, represented by J. M. M. Majiyagbe, Olusola Oke and Chris Uche (SAN), faulted the competence of the appeal and urged the court to dismiss it.

    Echocho challenged the legitimacy of the election before the Federal High Court on the grounds that it was wrongly held.

    The Federal High Court declined jurisdiction, as the case involved governorship election issues over which it lacked jurisdiction.

    Echocho went to the Court of Appeal, which upheld the decision of the Federal High Court, prompting his appeal to the Supreme Court.

    Adopting his brief yesterday, Majiyagbe urged the court to dismiss the appeal because he said the reliefs sought by Echocho could only be granted by an election tribunal.

    “The narrow issue is whether the Federal High Court can entertain electoral matters, especially in light of the reliefs sought by the appellant, one of which is that the court should set aside the election.”

    Uche noted that the Apex Court on September 10, last year upheld the election.

    He argued that having not taken part in the election, it was strange that he would seek to be declared the winner of the election he did not participate in.

    “The appellant sought to rely on the primary election of January 2011, which he won, but was canceled. In the case of Sylva against PDP, the Supreme Court held that the cancelled primary had become no issue and no one could rely on it.”

    Oke said Section 285 (2) of the 1999 Constitution vested exclusive jurisdiction in the election tribunal to determine issues relating to the conduct of elections and that Isah was wrong to have come to the High Court.

    To him, the High Court and Court of Appeal were right in dismissing the case, and urged the Supreme Court to do same.

    Oke told the court that PDP had the right to abandon a primary and conduct a new one.

    Echocho’s counsel Wole Olanipekun (SAN) submitted that the case was novel because it raised issues that had not been decided before.

    “This appeal has no precedent in this country. It calls for your Lordships’ intervention to protect the sanctity and potency of the judgment of the Supreme Court and the constitution.”

    He argued that the December 3, 2011, governorship election was held in violation of the Supreme Court’s judgment, which terminated the tenure of five governors.

    Olanipekun said his client could not have gone to the tribunal because his case did not fall within the grounds for filing a petition.

    Justice Mahmud Mohammed adjourned till February 21.

  • Ex-Rep member resigns from PDP

    A former member of the House of Representatives, Ehiogie West-Idahosa, has resigned his from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Idahosa said ideological differences with key party leaders in the state were among his reasons for leaving the PDP.

    The former lawmaker was in the House for 12 years, representing Ovia in Edo State.

    He was said to have fallen out with the party’s Chairman, Board of Trustees (BoT), Chief Tony Anenih. They did not reconcile until the end of his tenure.

    In a letter to the Ugbogui Ward Chairmen of the PDP in Ovia Southwest and state PDP Chairman, Chief Dan Orbih, Idahosa said: “My resignation is predicated on my ideological differences with key leaders of the party in Edo State.”

    The former lawmaker has not pitched his tent with any party, but his closed aides said he might be joining the All Progressives Congress (APC).

  • Oduahgate: Presidency, PDP disagree over minister’s fate

    Oduahgate: Presidency, PDP disagree over minister’s fate

    The Presidency and the leadership of the PDP seem to be moving in opposite directions over the fate of the embattled Aviation Minister, Stella Oduah, it was gathered yesterday.

    The minister is under investigation over the purchase of two bulletproof vehicles by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) at a total cost of N255million.

    The nation is currently awaiting the report of the Administrative Committee raised by President Goodluck Jonathan to probe the purchase.

    Sources said that while the party hierarchy led by the national chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, is rooting for the minister’s removal if she is indicted by the report, some powerful forces in the presidency are working out a strategy to save her job.

    The pro-Oduah forces are of the view that any action against her would rub off on the presidency and the party.

    “As a politician, he is bound to take a deep look at his action before making any pronouncement,” a source said.

    However, sources at the national secretariat of the PDP said the leadership of the party has told the president to weigh the implication of keeping the minister in office for the political fortune of the party ahead of the 2015 elections.

    “Leaders of the party are of the opinion that the minister should be shown the way out if indicted. This is in line with our commitment to the anti-corruption stance of the current administration. There is no better way to show the world that PDP is opposed to corruption than doing the right thing in this case,” a party source said.

    “The minister is not greater than the country or the party. We shouldn’t sacrifice the party for the minister. It is more convenient to sacrifice the minister for the party. Especially if she is found to have abused her office, she should be shown the way out.

    “I don’t know why the president is silent on the matter, but we are aware of efforts by some people to help her keep her job at all cost. But I can tell you that the leadership of the party is determined to oppose any decision on this matter that may tarnish the image of the party and we have told the president so.”

    Speaking on the matter recently, the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Olisa Metuh, said the party is greatly worried by the scandal.

    “We wish to assure Nigerians that whoever is found culpable shall reap in full, the bitter consequences of corruption and disservice to our dear nation. The position of our great party on corruption is unambiguous and our zero tolerance for corrupt practices abound in practical examples because our founding fathers placed utmost premium on transparent and accountable government as a fulcrum for achieving a Nigeria of our dream,” Metuh said.

  • 2015: Abia Central adopts Orji as senatorial candidate

    THE people of Abia Central Senatorial zone which comprises Umuahia North and South, Ikwuano, Isiala Ngwa Noth and South and Osisioma council areas have adopted Governor Theodore Orji as the sole candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the 2015 senatorial election in the zone.

    The adoption was made at a stakeholders meeting held in Umuahia with the people describing Orji as a political asset that would be very useful at the centre, having done well at the state level and equally resolved to purchase the form for the senatorial ticket for him.

    The meeting was called by the nine lawmakers representing Abia Central in the state House of Assembly and was attended by political and traditional rulers from the zone and resolved to do everything within its powers to force the governor to run for the senate.

    Prof Joshua Ogbonna, a renowned surgeon, moved a motion urging the people to endorse Orji as its sole candidate for the 2015 senatorial contest which was seconded by Sir Fidelis Nwachukwu.

    When the motion was put to vote, it was unanimously with a yes. One of the Speakers, Chief Gershon Amuta, had earlier suggested that the people should conscript the governor into the senatorial race in 2015, while urging the party to give him (Orji) automatic ticket, if he refuses to dance to their music.

    Amuta explained that the people of the zone, which is made up of both Ngwa and Umuahia, have a way of sharing their political office among them without any problems, stressing that it is the turn of Umuahia area in the zone to produce the candidate for the senate.

    He said, “The candidate from Ngwa has gone to the senate through Senator Nkechi Nwogu for two terms and now it is the turn of Umuahia to be at the senate and it is not negotiable that we have agreed that the governor, Chief Orji, should be our senatorial candidate come 2015”.

    Leader of Abia State House of Assembly and the member representing Umuahia East, Chidiebere Nwoke, who led other lawmakers from the zone in convening the meeting, said since the governor has done well in office, the lawmakers from the zone have agreed that he should be encouraged to go the senate.

    A former National Chairman of PDP, Prince Vincent Ogbulafor, who was in attendance said he supported the decision of the people, saying, “If the entire House members from the zone have resolved that the governor should go to the senate, who am I to say no to that decision”.

     

  • Nwoye gets reality check

    Nwoye gets reality check

    Everyone but Tony Nwoye, the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) candidate at the botched November 16, 2013 Anambra gubernatorial polls, knew his party was not keen on contesting. Until the last minute intervention of the Supreme Court even his candidacy was not on the cards.

    Had the courts not meddled in the PDP’s strategy of backing their ally, Gov. Peter Obi’s candidate and sitting out the governorship contest – in return for a similar favour for President Goodluck Jonathan come 2015, no one at Wadata Plaza, Abuja would have shed a tear.

    So it was not surprising that while Nwoye and other aggrieved candidates were calling for cancellation of the sham of an election, his party’s spokesman, Olisa Metuh, was hailing the same as the greatest thing since sliced bread.

    An angry Nwoye was forced to ask Metuh: “Who are you really working for? Which party do you actually belong to, PDP or APGA?” That is one question we’re certain will not get a response.

    But we sympathise with the naïve candidate who is only just coming to grips with the Machavellian ways of his party’s leaders. Back in 2007 the powers-that-be wanted anyone but Senator Ifeanyi Ararume as PDP candidate for the Imo governorship election.

    Instead of taking a hint and dropping out, he stubbornly pursued his claim to the Supreme Court. There he won a pyrrhic victory because the PDP promptly expelled him. The party sat out the polls, choosing instead to help install Ikedi Ohakim then of the Peoples Progressive Alliance (PPA). The rest, as they say, is history.

    Perhaps Nwoye would turn out to be one of those fellows who learn from history. Alternatively, as he contradicts the Abuja high command he should remember that PDP is the same yesterday, today and forever.

  • Borno 2015: PDP still struggling against the odds

    Borno 2015: PDP still struggling against the odds

    Assistant Editor, Dare Odufowokan, in this report highlights the odds against the efforts of Peoples Democratic Party to govern Borno State

    Right from the inception of the current democratic experiment in 1999, the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in spite of its huge presence in the northern geo-political zones of the country, has found itself remaining in the opposition in Borno State.

    Borno State, which is a strategic one politically and geographically, now under the leadership of the newly formed All Progressive Congress (APC), was administered by the defunct All Peoples Party (APP) and the All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP) respectively.

    And in spite of contesting and losing the governorship election in the state on four different occasions, the PDP remains determined to change the near age-long identity of the state as an opposition state by replacing the current APC administration with that of the ruling PDP in 2015.

    Towards achieving this obviously uneasy task, several efforts are being made by both the state chapter of the PDP and its national leadership. While chieftains of the party in the state continue to put the Governor Kashim Shettima-led administration on its toes, through incessant criticism and outcries, the national leadership of the party daily plots how to ensure its victory in the state come 2015.

    As part of this moves, on July 25, 2013, the national leadership of the party invited PDP chairmen, secretaries, treasurers, youths and women leaders of all non-PDP states, namely; Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Ekiti, Nasarawa, Imo, Anambra, Edo, Borno, Zamfara, and Yobe to a parley where the 2015 governorship election was discussed.

    The party also received report of state of affairs in their various chapters and also suggested ways of strengthening the chapters in preparation for the forthcoming gubernatorial contests.

    Speaking after the meeting which lasted for almost three hours, a leader of the party, Senator Ibrahim Mantu, said the party would take over the leadership in 13 non-PDP states once the disagreements among its members were resolved. Mantu said from the deliberations, it was discovered that some sections of the country had been short-changed in the sharing of political positions, particularly the cabinet slots.

    The former Deputy Senate President pointed out that Borno State had always been given a Grade C position by PDP-led governments, assuring that all efforts would be made to ensure that it is corrected while all issues arising from other grievances are addressed.

    The Nation also learnt that a plot to ensure victory for the PDP in Borno State as well as its neighbouring Yobe State, has been hatched by the party’s leadership following fears that it may lose Adamawa State to the opposition in 2015.

    Currently being coordinated by the zonal leadership of the party in the North-East, the agenda is for the party to win the next gubernatorial election in the state at all cost. The governors of Bauchi, Gombe and Taraba states, according to sources, have been mandated to support the plan with logistics.

    Mohammed Wakili, North East Acting National Vice Chairman of the party, confirmed the determination of the PDP to win the state in 2015. According to him, the party has been struggling and will continue to struggle until its candidate emerges as the governor of the state.

    “As a party, we will continue to struggle and the other parties will also struggle. Everybody has to play his part. But we will emerge the winners this time. If you are a good student of Borno politics you would have noticed this kind of attempt in 2007and even in the last election.

    “We as a party did our best to capture the state and we even challenged the election; meaning that the election was characterised by a lot of malpractices. So you try for something only for somebody to come up and use malpractice to do away with your mandate.

    “That does not mean we are not struggling. This is politics. We are struggling and we want to assure you that in the zonal office that we are coming in, our intention is to capture Borno and Yobe states. Our intention is to make our zone a PDP zone.”

    The state chairman of PDP, Alhaji Baba Basharu, while recently boasting of his party’s preparation for the 2015 poll said: “We will retrieve the mandate of the PDP in the state which was falsely snatched from us through the court and not through the ballot papers. The PDP would be the next occupiers of the Borno State Government House after the 2015 elections.

    “In 2011, the current deputy governor and some of their cohorts left the party; yet, we were able to capture two senatorial seats out of the three, including the one of the then sitting governor, Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff. We also got two House of Representatives and considerable number of state assembly members. Please, note, we rose to that level from zero representation,” he said.

    But in spite of the confidence being exuded by PDP chieftains over its readiness to spring a surprise in Borno State, analysts say there are too many odds against the party in the northeastern state, chief among which is the formidable nature of the ruling APC.

    “It will be difficult for PDP to win here in 2015. The closest they came were in 2003 and then in 2007. On both occasions, Alhaji Kashim Imam, arguably one of the most visible faces of the party in Borno, contested but lost the governorship elections.

    “In 2011, largely because of the many internal wrangling within the party, it failed woefully. Imam was poised to get the party’s ticket for a record third time but was schemed out by conflicting interests in Abuja. In protest, Imam allegedly consented to a political understanding with the All Nigeria Peoples Party.

    “As a result of this understanding, his then running mate, Zanna Mustapha, emerged as running mate to the governorship candidate of the ANPP, Kashim Shettima. Shettima eventually won the elections. Imam was said to have approved the move by many of his supporters to defect to the ANPP.

    “The party has not recovered from that blow. Rather, it has found itself in more and more troubles. If PDP couldn’t win the election when it was one indivisible party, then I doubt if it can even make an impact in 2015. Yes, we are aware of several plots and efforts to ensure its victory but its house is currently in disarray,” Comrade Hassan Bala, a pro-democracy activist based in Maiduguri, told The Nation.

    The Nation also learnt that the many crises rocking the party, both locally and nationally, may have led to massive loss of confidence in the party by its members as reflected by the high level of defections of party faithful into the APC.

    What started with the defection of the Deputy State Chairman of the PDP, Habu Hamman; State Secretary, Mallam Gana Radu; and Woman Leader, Hajia Fati Kakena into the APC, led to hundred of party chieftains across the state abandoning the party within weeks.

    Claiming that their defection was based on the achievements recorded by the Kashim-led administration, the defectors, who were received into their new party by Governor Kashim Shettima, condemned the multiple divisions within the PDP in its entirety.

    “We the Borno State Executive Committee members of Peoples Democratic Party in Borno State have voluntarily resigned and withdrawn our membership from the party and shifted our loyalty to All Progressives Congress under the leadership of Kashim Shettima, Executive Governor of Borno State.

    “We as members of the State Executive Committee of PDP decided to take such decision due to some developmental achievements carried out by the present administration that touch the lives of the common man in the state.

    “We shall continue to give our support to this administration on developmental aspects in the state. Despite all the security challenges facing the state for years, we witnessed tremendous achievements by this administration.”

    Barely two weeks later, fifteen state party officials and 17 members of the Hawul Local Government Council chapter executive committee of the party, as well as 31 campaign officials, who ran the campaign for Mohammadu Goni, the PDP candidate during the 2011 governorship elections, also defected to the APC.

    This new set of defectors accused the federal government of neglecting the state and its people during their most trying period. They said the President Jonathan-led federal government “gave Borno State a paltry N200m as relief after giving over N20bn to Cross River State.”

    Few weeks after that, sixteen executive members of the PDP from Gubio Local Government Area of the state have dumped the party. Expectedly, they moved over to the APC.

    Those who defected include the PDP Chairman of the local government, secretary; ward leaders, youth and women leaders of the party in the area. The defectors cited lack of vision and good leadership in the PDP as reasons for their movement.

    As the 2015 general election in the state draws nearer, many political observers are of the opinion that while the APC is consolidating its hold on the politics of the state, the rival PDP is also unrelenting in its struggle to govern the state.

  • Anambra supplementary poll holds Nov 30 – Jega

    Anambra supplementary poll holds Nov 30 – Jega

    Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Attahiru Jega Saturday announced November 30, 2013 for Anambra supplementary election.

    Jega, who confirmed that the Returning Officer declared the poll inconclusive admitted that the election “was not the best by the commission.”

    He regrets irregularities encountered during the exercise.

  • ‘Probe disruption of G-7 governors’ parley’

    The leadership of the New Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called for a probe into the November 3 disruption of a meeting of the G-7 governors at the Kano State Governor’s Lodge at Asokoro, Abuja, by a Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Nnana Amah, a chief superintendent of Police (CSP).

    Amah stormed the Governor’s Lodge when the seven PDP factional governors were meeting. He reportedly said he was acting on “orders from above” to stop the meeting or get the governors arrested.

    Those at the meeting were: Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano), Sule Lamido (Jigawa), Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto), Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Murtala Nyako (Adamawa) and others.

    The factional party’s call for the probe is coming on the heels of a statement by Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Mohammed Abubakar that he did send anyone to disrupt the meeting.

    In his submission before the House of Representatives’ Committee on Police Affairs last week, Abubakar said: “I want to state that neither myself nor any of my officers directed anybody to disrupt any meeting. But the officer has a duty to account for his actions and activities within his domain.”

    In a statement yesterday by the National Publicity Secretary of the New PDP, Chukwuemeka Eze, the party challenged the IG to prove his sincerity by instituting a probe into the incident.

    It said: “This is the only way to convince Nigerians that he (IG) had no hand in the brazen attempt by the Divisional Police Officer of Asokoro Division, CSP Nnanna Amah, to illegally terminate a legitimate gathering.

    “CSP Nnanna Amah, who had the temerity to threaten to arrest the G7 governors if they did not stop the meeting, claimed to be acting on orders from a higher authority from the Villa. Who is that authority in the Villa? Nigerians surely deserve to know.”

    It added: “We hope that the IG is not trying to hide behind a finger in this instance. We are just thinking aloud because the IG cannot claim ignorance of the impunity being perpetrated in Rivers State by the Commissioner of Police, Joseph Mbu, who has continued to be retained in that sensitive office, despite requests for his transfer by the Rivers State government, the National Assembly and many other eminent groups.

    “Is the IG trying to say that he can no longer control people working under him? That is an unsettling thought, in view of the implications for the maintenance of peace and security in the country.

    “We trust the IG’s competence and integrity but we urge him to sit up and take a stand on the side of truth and justice to avoid being seen as a threat to our fledgling democracy.

    “He should remember the type of support that both the G7 governors and other Nigerians gave him on his appointment and stop any further acts of impunity by the police.”

  • PDP criticises Rivers one week centenary holidays

    PDP criticises Rivers one week centenary holidays

    •Public holidays for celebration, says SSG

    The Rivers State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has criticised the declaration of one week public holidays for the Port Harcourt Centenary Celebration by Governor Rotimi Amaechi.

    The party accused the governor of impunity and called for a revolution.

    Rivers PDP Chairman, Chief Felix Obuah, in company of other members of the State Working Committee (SWC), told reporters yesterday in Port Harcourt, the state capital, that Amaechi wanted to subvert the course of justice.

    But the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), George Feyii, insisted that the public holidays were to enable the people participate in the centenary celebration.

    The Caretaker Chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Council, Chikordi Dike, at a media briefing on Monday in Port Harcourt, accused a judge of the Rivers State High Court, Justice I. A. Iyayi-Lamikanra, sitting in Port Harcourt of bias, in the suit filed by the suspended Chairman of the local government, Timothy Nsirim.

    Iyayi-Lamikanra was set, last Friday, to reinstate Nsirim; his deputy, Solomon Eke and 17 councillors.

    Dike said the judgment was leaked, with the suspended chairman and his supporters already celebrating ahead of the “favourable” judgment.

    The initial public holidays were on Friday and Monday, but were extended by the SSG till Friday.

    Five appeals and three motions for a stay of further proceedings on the Obio/Akpor suit pending before the Court of Appeal, Port Harcourt, would be taken on Thursday.

    The caretaker chairman also raised concern that “serious” travesty of justice would have occurred yesterday at Iyayi-Lamikanra’s court, if she had delivered the judgment in the Obio/Akpor suit.

    Dike wondered why Iyayi-Lamikanra was bent on delivering judgment yesterday in the suit when over 100 cases in her court had not been attended to while there was also a pending appeal on the suit before her.

    The Rivers PDP said: “Our attention has been drawn to a barrage of work-free days, first announced midnight on Thursday, November 14, 2013 by Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, declaring Friday, November 15, 2013 and Monday, November 18, 2013 as public holidays.

    “On November 18, at 8pm, Governor Amaechi extended the work-free days to November 22, without justification, other than to obstruct the course of justice in Rivers State.

    “The State PDP has it on good authority that Governor Amaechi, in the past two months, has attempted to dictate to some magistrates and judges and, indeed, judicial officers in the state on how to handle political cases. This has revealed his insistence on having Justice Peter N. C. Agumagu as the Acting Chief Judge of the state, without regard to laid-down rules and against all wise counsel.”

     

     

    “Amaechi had used all tactics, including financial inducements and executive orders to his aides and some council chairmen/caretakers to cast aspersions on some magistrates and judges, who are seen to have insisted on doing the right thing. This fact is not lost on us as well.

    “The reason given about the ongoing work-free days is political and diversionary. Since 1967, when Rivers State was created, we have not seen such abuse of work-free days, as we have seen in the last one week.

    “We also have it on good authority that the work-free days shall continue even after this week. Governor Amaechi has …demonstrated the crass impunity that characterises his governance.”

    The Rivers PDP urged the elders of the state, activists, labour leaders, among other notable people from state, to call the governor to order.

    It described their silence as “indeed” deafening.

    On April 22, Amaechi suspended the Obio/Akpor local government chairman, his deputy and all the 17 councillors, on the basis of an interim report of the Rivers House of Assembly Committee on Local Government Affairs, following a petition by Obio/Akpor Concerned Stakeholders.

    The stakeholders alleged huge financial looting against the Nsirim-led team.

    Amaechi, in compliance with the resolution of the House of Assembly, appointed a caretaker committee, pending the outcome of the investigation by the lawmakers.

    The members of the Rivers Assembly approved the names of the caretaker committee members on April 23 and were inaugurated the same day at the Government House, Port Harcourt, by the Secretary to the Rivers State Government, George Feyii.

    The Rivers PDP chairman asked the 32 lawmakers, who are all members of the ruling party, to reinstate the suspended chairman of Obio/Akpor LG, his deputy and the councillors, but they declined. This angered the Obuah-led executive.

    In order to wield the big stick, the Rivers PDP suspended the 27 legislators loyal to Amaechi, who is also the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), while the Rivers governor was in May recommended to the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party for suspension for anti-party activities and he was subsequently suspended.

    Nsirim and other suspended officials of Obio/Akpor LG, however, immediately challenged the Rivers lawmakers’ decision at the high court in Port Harcourt.

  • Suspension: Oyinlola sues PDP

    Suspension: Oyinlola sues PDP

    tHE Sacked National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, has sued the party. The embattled PDP chieftain was suspended following allegations that he engaged in anti-party activities.

    His lawyer, Awa Kalu (SAN),  said he sought legal redress to set aside Oyinlola’s suspension as the PDP National Secretary.

    Kalu said the PDP did not follow due process in suspending his client.

    The lawyer, who confirmed on phone yesterday that he sued for Oyinlola, added that his client’s suspension “is against the constitution of the party”.

    He said Oyinlola maintained that there were procedures to be followed for anybody to be suspended from his or her party.

    By the suit, Oyinlola wants the court to order the party to reverse its decision to suspend him.

    Oyinlola was suspended by the PDP on November 11, alongside the Chairman of the new PDP, Abubakar Baraje; his deputy, Sam Jaja and another member of the party from Jigawa State.