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Tag: PDP

  • 2015: PDP member adamant, asks Appeal Court to stop Jonathan

    2015: PDP member adamant, asks Appeal Court to stop Jonathan

    THE intra-party battle for the presidential ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of 2015 heightened at the weekend after a member of the party, Mr. Cyriacus Njoku, approached the Court of Appeal to stop President Goodluck Jonathan from seeking re-election.

    He holds the view that the 1999 Constitution does not sanction the administration of oath of office on anyone as president thrice.

    The appellant insists that having completed the tenure of the late President Umaru Yar’ Adua, Jonathan has served two terms constitutionally allowed in Nigeria.

    Njoku, in the appeal filed by his counsel, Mr. Osuagwu Ugochukwu, says it was wrong of Justice Mudashiru Oniyangi of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja to have ruled that Jonathan can contest in 2015.

    He is seeking two reliefs including an “order setting aside the judgment of the High Court of March 1, 2013,’ and an “order granting the reliefs sought by the Appellant in his Originating Summons filed on the 30th March, 2012.”

    He pleaded with the appellate court to declare that Jonathan is running his second term in office.

    The respondents are the President (1first), PDP (second) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), (third).

    The notice of appeal, filed on March 22 reads in part: “TAKE NOTICE that the Appellant, being dissatisfied with the Judgment of the High Court of Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, of Nigeria, Maitama Division, presided over by the Honourable Justice M.N. Oniyangi dated Friday, the 1st day of March, 2013, do hereby appeal upon the grounds set out in paragraph 3 and will at the hearing of the appeal seek the reliefs set out in paragraph 4.

    “The learned trial Judge erred in law when he held that the Appellant’s case did not disclose a reasonable cause of action.

    “The learned trial judge erred in law when he held that the gist of the case is whether as a result of the death of President Umaru Yar’Adua and the swearing of the 1st Respondent, who was till the death of Yar’Adua the Vice-President, as President for the unexpired period of four- year tenure of the late President Yar’Adua would mean a four- year tenure as President by the 1st Respondent.

    “ The gist of the case of the Appellant was whether or not the 1st Respondent(Jonathan) can contest the 2015 general election as presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party after he had taken the Oath of Office and Oath of Allegiance as President of the Federal Republic off Nigeria on the 6th May, 2010 and 29th May, 2011 respectively in view of the provisions of Sections 180 subsections 1 & 2 (a) and 182 (1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).

    “In the case of MARWA VS. NYAKO (2012) 6 NWLR (PART 1296) 199 @ 308-309, (a case relied on the trial Judge but which he wrongly applied) the Supreme Court held that it is settled law that the time fixed by the Constitution for the doing of anything cannot be extended.

    “The case of MARWA vs. NYAKO (supra) was decided on the construction of the provisions of Section 135 & 137 of the Constitution which is exactly the same as Sections 180 (1) & 2 (2) (a) & 182 (1) of the Constitution which the case under reference was hinged.

    “It follows therefore that the 1st Respondent is not eligible to contest again in respect of the Office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 2015 after having taken the Oath of Office and Oath of Allegiance twice.

    “The learned trial Judge erred in law when he held that the provisions of Section 137 (1) (b) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (supra) which provides that a person shall not be qualified for election to be elected to such Office at any two previous election does not apply to the case of the 1st Respondent.

    The appellant insisted that President Jonathan cannot be sworn in thrice as the nation’s leader.

    No date has been fixed for the hearing of the appeal.

     

  • Tukur: Ministers must hold PDP cards

    Tukur: Ministers must hold PDP cards

    The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP), Alhaji Bamanga Tukur has said that henceforth ministerial nominees who are not card-carrying members of the ruling party will be denied ministerial appointments.

    Tukur stated this in Bauchi yesterday during the party’s reconciliation tour of the Northeast geopolitical zone.

    Serving ministers from the zone did not attend the meeting, a development that did not go down well with the chairman.

    Tukur stressed the need for unalloyed loyalty from party members, stating that the party remained supreme and bigger than any individual, irrespective of their status.

    Tukur’s pronouncement was elicited by the observation by the Deputy Senate Minority Leader, Abdul Ningi, who complained that non members of the PDP were being favoured in choice ministerial portfolios, to the detriment of members who toiled for the party’s electoral victory.

    Ningi had observed that the apolitical ministers so favoured do not bear any sense of loyalty to the ruling party while enjoying the privileges and perks of office.

    The party chairman there and then ordered that serving ministers must register as members of the party in their various wards and obtain registration cards for the purpose of clearance for appointments.

    Tukur stated: “No minister will get cleared without the party card. You must be a card carrying member. You pay your dues, we know you, the people know you, the governor knows you and you are registered and known in your ward.”

    Among those present at the meeting were Governor Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State; Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe; Acting governor of Taraba State, Garba Umar; and the Deputy Governor of Adamawa State.

     

  • ‘PDP can’t capture Southwest’

    ‘PDP can’t capture Southwest’

    A socio-political group,’DERAUFS’ has said that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) cannot capture the Southwest geopolitical zone in the future elections. The group said the party will fail woefully in the next year governorship poll in Osun State because Governor Rauf Aregbesola has lived up to expectation.

    DERAUFS also urged the Southwest PDP to stop distracting the House of Representatives Speaker Aminu Tanbuwal, recalling that his election as the Speaker followed the due process.

    In a statement in Osogbo, Osun State capital, by the chairman of the group, Mallam Musliudeen Oladimeji, the group said that rigging will be impossible in the region in the next elections.

    Oladimeji noted that the PDP has been desperate to re-capture the Southwest, adding that the removal of Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola as its national secretary had revealed that nobody can effectively build on a porous foundation.

    He added: “The party has lost the Southwest to the progressives and they should forget about bouncing back to power in the region. PDP has lost its respect from the people of the region. We want to advise the PDP National Chairman,Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, to ignore the call for the reinstatement of the former national secretary and vice chairman. PDP cannot bounce back in the Southwest”.

     

  • Ogun PDP unfolds reconciliation agenda

    Ogun PDP unfolds reconciliation agenda

    Ogun State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chairman Chief Bayo Dayo has waved the olive branch to the faction led by Senator Dipo Odujinrin, stressing that a divided house cannot make progress.

    He stressed the need for the aggrieved party chieftains to close ranks ahead of the next general elections in the state.

    Dayo spoke in Abeokuta, the state capital, shortly after the party’s national leadership directed the State Executive Committee to start operating from the PDP Secretariat.

    The national body also wrote to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) , Mohammed Abubakar, to provide adequate security at the secretariat.

    In the last six months, the secretariat has been a bone of contention between the two factions. Thugs have invaded the office last year, sacking Dayo and his team. Later, the secretariat was sealed off by the police.

    A party chieftain, Prince Buruji Kashamu, said the directive by the national leadership followed the recognition of Dayo as the authentic chairman.

    Kashamu said the IGP has directed the Ogun State Commissioner of Police to guarantee the safety of the party officials., including the police, from harassing or arresting him when he takes charge at the Secretariat.

    Dayo urged the members of the Odujinrin faction to sheathe their swords and embrace peace. He promised to be fair to all in the discharge of his duties,.

    He said: “We have been going through a lot of problem that is not known to many people after the National Working Committee (NWC) confirmed this present executive in Ogun State. Some people are not happy about it and they have been writing series of letters, telling the police to arrest me; that I have said one thing or the other. But I have gone to the court and the court has restrained them.

    “We got an injunction that no police must arrest me , no police must ask me for anything, until the conclusion of the case. I have gone to court to enforce my fundamental human right and the court has granted an junction restraining the police from harassing me anywhere, which means that I am free person”, he said.

     

  • Amaechi: I remain loyal to PDP

    Rivers State Governor and Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) Rotimi Amaechi has assured the National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that he and his administration remain loyal and committed to the party.

    He said he would continue to deliver accountable, transparent, developmental and people-oriented leadership to the people.

    Amaechi spoke at the weekend when he hosted the PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, who led the committee members on a visit to the governor in Port Harcourt.

    Amaechi urged the committee to work out modalities to rebuild and reconcile lingering differences in the party.

    “We will remain in PDP… We support the issue of reconciliation, reconstruction and rebuilding of the party.

    “We are in PDP, I have told my executives that if we want to win election, we must work in such a way that the people are happy with us.

    “Currently, we are popular in Rivers state, we have to maintain our popularity while in office and thereafter, and the only way to maintain that popularity is to continue to do what we are doing now, putting the people first.”

    While taking stock of the achievements of his administration, Amaechi said his administration would deliver steady power supply by June.

    “If you watch my town hall meetings, nobody tells me you have done nothing, what they say is please do more.

    “But we are saying that by the time we leave office, we will be proud to say we have done this and that.

    “Currently, if you access governors by the number of bridges and flyovers they have built, we have built five and by 2015, we must have built 15 bridges,” he added.

    Tukur expressed satisfaction with the level of people oriented projects put in place by the Amaechi administration in the state.

    “You are executing socially, responsible programmesand this has made me to be very happy and proud that our party is working.

    “So what we can see today is a testimony of a responsible programme to the people.

     

  • PDP sues electoral body

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State has begun a legal action against the State Independent National Electoral Commission (EDSIEC) over nomination form fee.

    Chairmanship and councillorship candidates were made to pay N100,000 and N50,000 for the forms to contest the April 20 local government elections.

    State PDP Chairman Dan Orbih said the party took the action to compel the electoral body to refund what he called “illegal fees”.

    Orbih spoke at Fugar, the headquarters of Estako Central Local Government during the flag-off of the party’s campaign.

    He said they believed that EDSIEC’s action was unconstitutional, illegal and that they were relying on sections 106 and 107 of the Constitution.

     

  • Group dismisses ACN members’ ‘defection’ to Kwara PDP

    A group, the Irepodun New Initiative, has dismissed a report of the defection of about 600 members of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oro, Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara State.

    It described the report as not only malicious but also unfounded and mischievous, adding: “It is only an imagination that can never become a reality in Oro.”

    In a statement, the Chairman of the group, Mr. Atolagbe Ayansola, said: “We appreciate the pains some so-called PDP stakeholders in the ward are experiencing following the loss of the control of Oro Ward I and II in the 2011 election. We equally appreciate the enormity of the personal and political loss of patronage they have suffered.

    “We are constrained to give measured response to their vitriolic lies. We have advised the Oro people to disregard the report of the people defecting in Oro town to the PDP as it depicts playing to the gallery to please their paymasters. Sooner or later their dangerous vitriol will earn them reprisals from the right-thinking people of Oro, who are not fooled by the new-found roles and the antics of recruitment into the PDP by all means for political sing-song before their leaders for monetary reward.”

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • ACN attacks PDP, INEC over APC

    ACN attacks PDP, INEC over APC

    •‘Electoral agency insincere’
    •‘INEC has only intent letter’

    The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) yesterday took on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) amid the battle to register the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The AC N accused INEC of “engaging in bare-faced lies and manipulation of fact by claiming that the platform African Peoples Congress has applied to the commission for registration”.

    The electoral agency confirmed the existence of a proposal for registration from the African Peoples Congress (APC).

    The ACN said yesterday in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, that it had it “on good authority that a top official of INEC has boasted that the emergence of the All Progressives’ Congress (APC) will be frustrated at all costs”.

    “Also, while the PDP has been quick to say it is not bothered by the coming together of the progressive forces, it has been having sleepless nights and working round the clock to devise measures to sabotage the merger.

    “The plan to set up the phantom African Peoples Congress to create an acronym war is just a tip of the iceberg. In the days ahead, Nigerians should watch out for more devilish plans by the PDP. But we are comforted by the fact that the forces of darkness have never prevailed over the forces of light”.

    An official of the Political Party Monitoring and Lianson Office, who is believed to be eyeing INEC secretary, is said to be working for the PDP in a “desperate bid” to scuttle APC’s registration.

    Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole, also yesterday, urged INEC to register APC or have its image rubbished.

    Oshiomhole, who was elected on the platform of the AC N, one of the three major parties that merged to form the APC – the others being the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) – told reporters at the State House in Abuja that it is the right of political parties to merge.

    He said: “We have merged to form the All Progressives Congress; so, if people chose to trivialise it, it is up to them.

    “I know that INEC will register the APC because if they don’t, they will leave themselves open to accusation. Everybody knows this has been on the national discourse war at a period; it is not a new issue.

    “If people want to play these cheap games, first it shows that they are panicky and I don’t see any reason why people should be panic.

    “In a genuine democracy, it is in our interest, those in power and those out of power, to create viable alternative platform for people to make an informed choice. No party is too good to rule forever, nor is any party too bad to be out of power forever.

    “We have seen what is happening around the African continent. Nigeria must live by example in many respects. And if for some people, these are things to trivialise, it is not about me; it is not about you. A political party is not indigeneship; it is a platform of ideas. It is about Nigeria”, He said.

    The ACN said the INEC claim, as articulated by Mr. Kayode Idowu, the spokesman for INEC Chairman Prof. Attahiru Jega, is not supported by the relevant sections of the Electoral Act regulating the registration of a political party.

    It said no party today with the acronym APC has applied to INEC to be registered, adding that even “the phantom African Peoples Congress – which is being sponsored by the PDP to lay claim to the acronym – has only written a letter of intent, which has not even been discussed by INEC, let alone the commission taking any decision on it.

    ‘’The statement credited to Mr. Idowu is therefore reckless and provocative and clearly betrays INEC as truly having merged with the PDP to frustrate the merger of the progressives under the banner of the All Progressives Congress (APC). One wonders who the spokesman is speaking for and what interest he represents. He should therefore be called to order before he sets the country ablaze,’’ the ACN said.

    The party said in order to debunk INEC’s claim that the phantom African Peoples Congress has applied for registration, it is calling the attention of all the good people of Nigeria to the sections of the Electoral Act that are relevant to party registration:

    – Part V Political Parties of the Electoral Act, Section 78 (1) says: “A political association that complies with the provision of the Constitution and this Act for the purposes of registration shall be registered as a political party, provided that such application shall be duly submitted to the Commission not later than 6 months before a general election.”

    – Section 78 (2) which says: “The Commission shall on receipt of the documents in fulfilment of the conditions stipulated by the Constitution immediately issue the applicant with a letter of acknowledgement stating that all necessary documents have been submitted to the Commission”

    The ACN said: ‘’In this case, the applicants on behalf of the phantom African Peoples Congress, the clients of Legal World Chambers, have not submitted any of the documents stipulated by the Constitution to the Commission. They have only written a letter of intent and therefore INEC could not have issued them any letter of acknowledgment, let alone starting the process of verifying the documents

    ‘’At this point, they cannot even be regarded as applicants. Why then did INEC through its spokesperson gleefully go to the media to proclaim that another political association has applied to be registered as African Peoples Congress using the same acronym APC?.

    “Clearly INEC is on a mission of mischief and its paymaster is PDP which has been having sleepless nights since the merger arrangement was announced.’’

    The party also called attention to Section 78 (6) of the Electoral Act, which says: “An application for registration as a political party shall not be processed unless there is evidence of payment of administrative fee as may be fixed from time to time by the Commission”

    The ACN said it is aware that the applicants in question have not even paid any administrative fees and therefore INEC could not have commenced processing their application, because there is no application before INEC as they have only written a letter of intent.”

    To the ACN, the INEC spokesperson who announced that another political association has applied to be registered as APC is misleading Nigerians.

    “He should immediately be called to order before he sets the country ablaze,’’ the party said.

    It said what has emerged over the registration issue is that INEC is in cahoots with the PDP to stampede the merging parties to commit errors and also intimidate them to drop the acronym APC, adding however: ‘’This has failed because as of today in accordance with the provisions of S. 78 (2) and S. 78 (6) of the Electoral Act as explained above, there is no applicant on record for the acronym APC, contrary to the deceit being spread by the INEC spokesman.

    The ACN also alerted Nigerians to the fact that INEC has had a constructive knowledge of the merger plan and the existence of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for a long time, going by statements credited to the INEC spokesman.

    On February 17th 2013, Mr. Idowu was quoted to have said, in a news story in The Punch of that date, that the All Progressives’ Congress (APC) remained a political association, even though it is yet to be recognised by the commission.

    “By law, we do not expect APC to come to INEC. The political parties that are fusing into another party will individually and respectively come back to INEC, notifying us that they are fusing into a party with a new identity,’’ the ACN quoted Mr. Idowu to have said told the newspaper.

    ‘’The same Idowu also told TVC news on February 8 that INEC was expecting the leadership of the All Progressives’ Congress to apply for formal documentation. With these statements, it is clear that INEC has always had a constructive knowledge of the All Progressives’ Congress (APC) since the merger plan started, and that the emerging party did not have to do anything until all the component parties have held their conventions and ratified the constitution, manifesto and logo of the APC.

    ‘’We are therefore using this medium to assure the millions of our supporters within and outside Nigeria that there is no cause for alarm. The merger process is on course. The All Progressives’ Congress that is the legitimate people’s APC will berth safely and deliver Nigerians from the oppressive yoke of the PDP.

    ‘’We also wish to seize this opportunity to thank the thousands of concerned Nigerians who through text messages and emails have overwhelmed us with their advice and words of encouragement in the last two days.

    Your support have been invaluable to us and we shall not let you down,’’ the party said.

    The Lagos chapter of the ACN said Jega should quit having displayed partisanship.

    In a statement by its Publicity Secretary Joe Igbokwe, it said: “Lagos ACN therefore calls on Jega and his INEC leadership to resign or get sacked for falling so short of the impartial expectation of an INEC leadership. We urge Nigerians to step up the pressure to free INEC rotten leadership of Jega and the present INEC leadership. We must step up our demand that an independent and competent, non-partisan INEC leadership be empaneled by the NJC for the purpose of organising elections in Nigeria.

    “We must express our disapproval of an INEC leadership made up of card-carrying members of PDP, who are sworn to the protection and promotion of the PDP interests as the Jega leadership is presently committed to. We charge the members, supporters and sympathisers of Nigeria to be on their guards as the PDP/INEC plots fully unfold and be prepared to engage in mass actions necessary to secure an INEC that is not beholden to the guiles and antics of the PDP in its quest for limitless but irresponsible power.”

    The statement added: “We are shocked that the Jega-led INEC should indulge in such brazen, dirty and inordinate tricks as stealing in a fraudulent registration for a shadowy political party for the purpose of denying the APC its just registration.

    “We are peeved that such callous act is being perpetrated by the INEC leadership in contrivance with the PDP for the sole purpose of furthering the selfish, narrow and pristine interests of the PDP. This has sent an early warning signals that the Jega INEC is bent on once again, manipulating the coming election in favour of the PDP without regard to the feelings of the generality of long-suffering Nigerians.”

     

  • Ogun PDP exco gets national hqtrs’, IGP’s backing

    Ogun PDP exco gets national hqtrs’, IGP’s backing

    The National Executive of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has asked the Mr. Adedayo Bayo-led party exco in Ogun State to move into the PDP’s state secretariat in Abeokuta, the state capital, to enable it perform its constitutional functions effectively.

    In a letter to the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Abubakar, the national body urged him to provide security for the party’s executive at the Ogun secretariat.

    In the last six months, the Bayo-led executive, which is loyal to Prince Buruji Kashamu, and the Senator Dipo Odunjirin faction, loyal to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, have been fighting for control of the secretariat.

    About 12 persons, including the State Secretary, Alhaji Semiu Sodipo, were beaten up by armed thugs early this year when the Kashamu group attempted to occupy the secretariat.

    Yesterday, Kashamu said the IGP has directed the Commissioner of Police to provide security for the party’s authentic executive.

    He spoke in Ijebu-Igbo while distributing 250 cars and 500 motorcycles to party members and supporters through his foundation, the Omo-Ilu Foundation.

    Bayo said he had secured a court order restraining anybody, including the police, from harassing or arresting him when he takes charge at the secretariat.

    He praised Kashamu for his commitment to the unity and progress of the party.

    Bayo said the executive would resume at the secretariat today.

  • Offa rerun: ACN candidate accuses PDP of foul tactics

    Ousted Offa Local Government Chairman, Prince Saheed Popoola, has denied what he called ‘the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-sponsored rumour’ that he is not taking part in the forthcoming rerun.

    The appeal tribunal has ordered a rerun in the ACN-controlled council following a petition by the PDP that it was not duly notified of the by-election that produced Popoola as the executive chairman.

    Popoola said in a statement he issued in Offa yesterday that the PDP had been enmeshed in plots since the court ruling to gain unfair advantage in the election, including spreading rumour of his withdrawal from the race.

    The statement reads: “Our attention has been drawn to some dirty tactics our opponents are devising to, by all foul means, gain control of the Offa Local Government as the rerun draws near.

    “One of the tactics is the rumour being spread that I have withdrawn from the forthcoming rerun. We wish to inform our supporters and Offa people that this is not true and should be ignored. It is the cowardly handiwork of the PDP. I remain a candidate of the ACN. Members and leaders of the party stood by me throughout the legal struggle.

    “We are also aware of their other evil plans to ensure I do not participate in the election, especially after overtures to make me dump my party for the PDP have failed. This evil plan will also crumble, God willing, because democracy is about free choice and does not thrive in an atmosphere of intimidation or blackmail.

    “We urge our supporters and lovers of democracy to be vigilant as the rerun draws near. Our opponents are desperate politicians, who would resort to any tactics, however foul, immoral or illegal, to deny Offa people their right to a free choice.”