The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Peoples Democratic Party

  • Makarfi urges Buhari to call troublemakers to order

    Former Chairman of the Caretaker Committee of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Senator Ahmed Makarfi, on Monday urged President Muhammadu Buhari to call to order politicians who are creating crisis in Rivers state, saying they should not be allowed to truncate the nation’s hard-earned democracy.

    He also said the President should not allow such politicians to use their connection at the federal level to continue to intimidate blackmail and harass the Governor of Rivers State Mr Nyesom Wike.

    In a statement signed by his media aide, Murktar Sirajo, Senator Makarfi deplored the abortion of the by election in Rivers state, saying it was yet another evidence of impunity and disregard for the laws of the country.

    Senator Makarfi who was a former governor of Kaduna state, also said going by the recent political developments in the country, it has become imperative to restructure the nation’s political system.

    The statement reads: “The abortion of the by election for the Port Harcourt 3 seat of the Rivers State House of Assembly is yet another unfortunate evidence of the impunity and brazen disregard and violation of the laws of the country by elements of the current ruling party, unfortunately, with no consequence.

    “It disturbs Senator Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi to no end that an election into a single constituency for which INEC had made adequate preparations and for which voters were ready, could fail to hold simply because some men of the moment, using their influence, deployed thugs to violently disrupt the exercise, knowing that their party was going to lose. Sadder still is the fact that these thugs operated openly, given cover by armed security agents who were supposed to protect the people.

    “Senator Ahmed Makarfi believes that this type of state sanctioned criminality can lead this country in only one direction: an irredeemable damage to or even truncation of the democracy that Nigeria paid enormous price to bring about.

    “The unfortunate event of last Saturday was a part vindication of the complaint of Senator Makarfi recently in Port Harcourt to the effect that the Rivers State government, and particularly Governor Nyesom Wike were continuously and consistently being targeted for intimidation and blackmail by the central government, using agencies of state that are paid and supposed to protect the people.

    Read Also: I’ll restructure Nigeria – Makarfi

    “More intriguing is the fact that the chief orchestrator and perpetrator of this dance of shame is very well known, and in fact makes no attempt to hide; yet nothing is done by those in authority to call them to order. Senator Makarfi believes that Nigeria is no banana republic and should therefore not allow a situation in which some people are beyond reproach.

    “He thus believes that President Muhammadu Buhari owes this country a duty to, not only call masterminds of this shameful act to order but also ensure that they are subjected to the full rigors of the law to answer for their crimes.

    “Senator Makarfi identifies and commiserates with the government and people of Rivers State over this wanton assault and primitive abuse of privilege and urges Governor Wike to remain resolute and focused on delivering democracy dividends to the people, in the face of this unnecessary distraction.

    “The Senator equally reiterates, once again, his call for the restructuring of our public institutions, especially security agencies to make them answerable to the state rather than the whims and caprices of the controllers of the political levers”

  • Field candidate with electoral value, Kwankwaso tells PDP

    Presidential aspirant of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and former Governor of Kano State, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has urged the party to field candidate with electoral value for the 2019 general elections.

    Senator Kwankwaso who described the 2019 general elections as a crucial one said what is important is winning the election.

    Speaking to party supporters in Benin City, Senator Kwankwaso stated they anybody could be given the ticket but winning the main election is more important.

    Senator Kwankwaso expressed optimism that the nation’s financial challenges was surmountable if wastages could be stopped.

    Kwankwaso told Edo PDP supporters that he was in the state for consultation before he would officially declare his intention.

    The former Kano state Governor said he would use his wealth of experience to change the country’s narrative.

    He disclosed that he never collected security votes for the eight years her served as governor.

    Kwankwaso said he achieved a lot as a Governor without borrowing any money from anywhere in the world.

    Read Also: PDP condemns demolition of Aiyefele’s studio

    According to him, “We must get the facts and figures right in choosing our candidate. I have only told you that I have contested elections 15 times and lost only twice, I have not told you the people I have supported to become presidents.

    “My developmental strides, especially in the Educational sector, in Kano between 1999 to 2003 and 2011 to 2015 are still there for everyone to see.

    “Not only did we build thousands of classrooms and hundreds of primary schools across the state, we also trained and retrained thousands of teachers and gave two sets of uniforms, every years, to students in the state.

    “While we provided scholarships, both locally and internationally, to thousands of students, we also made education at primary, secondary and Tertiary levels, free.

    “As we speak, Kano State has the highest number of post graduate and Phd’s in the country, these people dominate most tertiary institutions in the North West as lecturers.

    There was applause at the PDP secretariat following the presence of former Governor Lucky Igbinedion who was said to be visiting the secretariat for the very first time.

  • ‘Don’t entrust Nigeria into the hands of treasury looters again’

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has warned Nigerians against entrusting the Leadership of the country in the hands of those whose sole aim is to loot the nation’s treasury and return the country to the dark ages where impunity and institutionalized corruption was the order of the day.

    Reacting to the statement credited to Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki that he was considering contesting the Presidency, Acting National Publicity Secretary of the party, Yekini Nabena said it was evident that Saraki was out to serve his own interest and not that of the nation.

    While saying that it was not a thing of surprise that the Senate President would indicate his interest in the Presidency of the country, Nabena said Nigerians must open their eyes and vote wisely for those who an pass the integrity test.

    The statement reads: “In a recent interview with the international news organization, Bloomberg, the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki unsurprisingly declared his intention to contest the 2019 Presidency under the platform of the People’s  Democratic Party (PDP).

    “Against the backdrop of the litany of corruption allegations trailing the Senate President, Saraki’s declaration, brings to the fore our earlier call to anti-graft agencies to check the use of stolen public funds to finance elections in this country. We reiterate our position that the Nigerian electorate must have the opportunity to choose from candidates that can pass the integrity and anti-corruption test.”

    It said further: “Let us refresh our memory on some of Saraki’s corruption allegations:

    • Allegations of fraud which led to the collapse of the Saraki family-owned Société Générale Bank (Bukola Saraki who was Director of the defunct bank was indicted as over N1bn alleged to have been looted from the bank’s treasury).
    • Misappropriation of Kwara State funds, disregard of government due process and conversion of State government assets into his and cronies when he served as two-term governor of Kwara State.
    • History of betrayals, treachery and sabotage – Family, political party (PDP, APC), Senate, government.
    • Saraki was questioned by the Nigeria Police Special Fraud Unit over a N11 billion financial scandal at the defunct Intercontinental Bank.
    • Gluttonous property acquisitions and hidden multi-billion dollar assets spread across the world as disclosed by the Panama Papers revelations.
    • The multi-million dollar white elephant Shonga Agricultural Project in Kwara State when Saraki served as two-term governor.
    • Falsification of Senate standing order
    • Saraki’s link to the N298m armored Range Rover SUV seized by the Nigeria Customs Service.
    • Saraki’s link to $19.5b Paris Club Loan refund scandal
    • Oversaw budget padding in the National Assembly
    • Among other numerous corruption scandals.

    The party said that “Nigerians should be wary of a man whose personal ambition will always supersede the interest of the majority and national interest as currently displayed in the National Assembly.

    Read Also: Tinubu: Saraki, Tambuwal left APC for fear of Buhari

    “While Saraki refuses to reconvene the National Assembly, the 2019 election budget of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is dangerously delayed, an action deliberately taken to sabotage INEC’s ability to conduct free, fair, transparent and credible elections in 2019.

    “While Saraki refuses to step down as Senate President as rightly and severally demanded by the APC-dominated Senate, he is bent on foisting a PDP-minority rule (Senate President and Deputy Senate President) in the Upper Legislative House.

    “The only politics that Bukola Saraki plays is self, himself only and only himself. The interest and welfare of the people of Nigeria do not mean anything to him. Now it is the Presidency Saraki wants.

    “And we ask with what antecedents is he doing this? Conspiracy, blackmail, treachery and vaulting ambition which overleaps itself and falls on the other, as rightly captured by William Shakespeare. Bukola Saraki will rather rule in hell than serve in paradise.

    “Ahead of 2019 elections, Nigerians must ensure that we never again entrust the leadership of this great country to thieves whose sole aim is treasury looting and returning us to the dark ages where impunity and institutionalized corruption was the order of the day.”

  • Lend your voice to stop NASS crisis, Monarch urges Kwankwaso

    The Benin Monarch, Oba Ewuare II, has urged Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso to lend his voice to ensure there is peace in the National Assembly.

    Oba Ewuare II described the situation at the National Assembly as worrisome and capable of plunging the country into chaos.

    The Benin Monarch spoke at his palace when Senator Kwankwaso paid him a visit to seek prayers in his quest to secure the ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party for next year’s presidential election.

    Oba Ewuare II who wondered what would happened to the rest of the country if the National Assembly is in chaos said it is only God and the ancestors that could look into people’s heart and choose the best.

    He stated that the ancestors taught them to pray for the right person that would take care of the masses and respect the traditional institution.

    The Benin Monarch warned of dire consequences if the cultural value of the Africa society is not respected.

    Read Also: Ganduje versus Kwankwaso: Who will laugh last in Kano?

    According to him, “If we respect our traditional values, things will be better for us.””You can contribute your quota and lend your voice to ensure peace in the National Assembly. Whatever thing that is happening there is worrisome.”

    On his part, Senator Kwankwaso promised to build a strong nation and support traditional institutions if elected president.

    Senator Kwankwaso said he would promote the Edo cultural heritage and culture as well as solve security challenges.

    Kwankwaso later visited the Edo PDP secretariat where he met with party delegates to sue for support.

  • How not to assess Lagos under Ambode

    I say without any equivocation that this young man who is there now-AkinwunmiAmbode-he has raised the stake of performance (in Lagos State) especially in infrastructure.— Olabode George, chieftain of the opposition People’s Democratic Party,( PDP).

    About the time strident critics in Nigeria had begun to come to terms with the reality of Lagos as standing out of the pack in an environment of ill-performing states posting distressing infrastructure-deficit indices, a global body has turned out a report suggesting the contrary. So on the one hand, we have the rare acclaim of a known censurer of the Ambode government; and on the hand we are being offered the partial picture of what is on the ground.

    According to the 2018 Global Liveability Index released by The Economist Intelligence Unit(EIU) World Bank, ‘’Lagos is the third worst city to live in.’’ It examined 140 cities and placed Nigeria’s economic and commercial hub at 138, Syria and Bangladesh being the only two lower.

    Vienna, the Austrian capital, was ranked the most liveable city in the world. Melbourne in Australia came in second place after a seven-year at number one. Japan’s Osaka came in at third position.

    The ranking was based on five parameters: Political and Social Stability, Education, Culture, Environment, Infrastructure and Access to Health. For Infrastructure among the other factors, ‘’the quality of road network, quality of public transport, international links, availability of good quality housing, quality of energy provision, quality of water provision and quality of telecommunications were considered.’’

    Interestingly, by the reckoning of a widely-travelled and respected Nigerian financial expert Mr. Bismarck Rewane, these are areas where Ambode’s Lagos has fared excellently. Not known for flippant comments on political and economic matters because of his integrity, Rewane has become a favourite of newsmen on hot-button issues. So when the EIU report came up, he spoke what many have regarded as the objective view.

    He criticized the world body for its judgment that Lagos is the planet’s third worst city to choose to live in. It’s an unfair and harsh verdict, Rewane told an interviewer on a leading TV News station operating from Lagos last week. He declared solemnly: ‘’First and foremost, I think then report is subjective and it is based on warped criteria. Certainly, in a survey that says that number 86 is Johannesburg when you talk about crime, terrorism, insurgency and Lagos is 138 out of 140, it’s unfortunate. I feel safer in Lagos than in Johannesburg…I must come out strongly that the EIU …is a bit subjective and does not reflect the truth. Lagos is definitely not the third worst city to live in in the world. I stand by that and I am ready to join issues with the Economic Intelligence Unit whom I respect anyway…’’

    His stand tallies with those of most dispassionate observers who taken keen interest in developments in this state growing by leaps and bounds every day. Adjudged the fastest growing and the fifth largest economy in Africa, Lagos is heading for the 20 million population mark, earnings it the mega polis epithet. That poses inherent security and infrastructure challenges characteristic of such climes.

    But that is precisely where to dig deep to find out if the Lagos authorities are aware the world is watching them to know if they are tackling the issues appropriately and in accordance with global best practices. The world has become a small space, any corner of which you can access from the comfort of your room. What happens in your backyard or bedroom is in the world domain, not even public domain. So the world can’t but notice the mammoth activity of urban renewal in Lagos. The entire state has become a veritable construction site, where new roads are either being built or existing ones are experiencing a face-lift via expansion and modernization. And to secure lives, residential and office apartments which have failed safety are being pulled down to make way for befitting centres of commerce and habitation.

    The transport sector is similarly being driven to the next level, with the phasing out of the ubiquitous molue. The more appealing luxurious Lagbus fleet are taking over on newly created corridors not only to add aesthetic beauty to the city landscape, but also to deepen the security of commuters.

    There is now an unprecedented move by the Ambode government to trash the notorious slums in the state into the dustbin of the past. He has come under attack for attempting what his predecessors dared not to undertake: displacing the huge ghettoes and rickety markets to create for modern and affordable settlements and business centres.

    But, as ex-Ghanaian President Jerry Rawlings told complaining compatriots when he was rebuilding Ghana after years of decay, ‘’it is a bitter pill that must be taken for lasting relief’’. Time is proving him right, because Ghana has enjoyed a sane and equable political and economic history since his days. It was a challenge the current generation of Ghanaian would have been battling with if Rawlings hadn’t confronted it then.

    I think when reports of the nature under review are coming up, their authors must also consider on-going projects of renewal in societies being assessed. That way, they would avoid producing halfway verdicts of the type being criticized by well-meaning Nigerians. The critics are not those in government or so-called sponsored commentators. They are those who believe the EIU has not been fair to an administration whose members are having sleepless nights in order to make Lagos safe and turn it into a tourism haven as well as the investors’ dream destination.

    • Anibaba, a journalist wrote from Ikorodu, Lagos State

     

  • C/River APC chieftain rejects zoning for governorship

    A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Cross River State, Mr Goddie Akpama, has called for the jettisoning of the zoning arrangement for the governorship position in next year’s election if the party intends to win the election next year.

    The political class appears to have an unwritten agreement that the governorship should rotate among the three senatorial districts and by this arrangement the northern senatorial district still has another four years with Governor Ben Ayade of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) from Obudu local government area, almost concluding his first four years.

    The other two districts are the southern and central senatorial districts which produced former governors Donald Duke and Liyel Imoke respectively, who both served for eight years each from 1999.

    Speaking against the background of the by-election for the Obudu State Constituency of the House of Assembly, where the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mrs. Abbey Ukpukpen, scored 12,530 to beat the All Progressive Congress’ (APC) candidate, Mr Adah Ishamali who polled 4,349 votes, on August 11, Akpama said the zoning should not apply to the APC.

    According to him, going by what transpired in the by-election, the northern senatorial district does not have what it takes to win the governorship for the APC.

    Speaking with The Nation in Calabar on Saturday, Akpama, a former governorship candidate of the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA) in the state, called on the APC to support someone from the south as according to him, this would greatly improve their chances next year, given they have the voting strength.

    Read Also: 34 prisoners get pardon in C/Rivers

    Akpama said, “The main lesson from that by-election is very clear, and it is that the northern senatorial district APC aspirants do not have what it takes to win the governorship elections next year for our Party. As a member of the APC, I still stand tall to say, that the governorship aspirants of the north have no political muscle to win elections in 2019 by what transpired during the by-election. We have three governorship aspirants from Obudu and they did nothing to show for the capacity of being governors in the by-election.

    “Even though for the sake of equity, we shout it is the turn of the north, but for the APC to win elections in the state, they must not rely on such a zoning formula if we must win elections in 2019. Again it is not constitutional to limit participation to any unit, constituency or zone.

    “We have approximately 69, 000 registered votes in Obudu. The APC could not even mobilize half of that number to its credit. The by-election was a total failure to the APC. My conclusion is that all of the aspirants do not have the capacity to be able to do or win elections come 2019.

    “I suggest that we the APC begin to look for other options if we intend to win the state next year and not just limit themselves to the issue of zoning. This would be inimical to the party. The party has better materials that would be able to mobilize to win the elections next year, so they should look towards that direction.

    “Let every other party member stand behind whoever would be able to have such capacity to match the PDP, to win the elections come 2019. It is pertinent to reiterate that the PDP has lost popularity with the people and this is the right time for the APC to put themselves together and come up with someone that can win next year.”

  • ‘Emulate Tinubu’s political Virtues’

    A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo state, Adeniyi Ayodeji on Saturday urged progressive politicians to emulate the virtues of the former Lagos state governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

    He pointed out that he left the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) because he valued the selfless way the APC leader played politics of inclusion.

    Besides, Ayodeji said he was fascinated by the political ideology of the ruling APC, which gingered him to move from the PDP to APC to work with other progressives elements in the country.

    Ayodeji, a United States (US) based Geologist and House of Representatives Aspirant for Idanre/Ifedore federal constituency spoke with reporters in Akure, the Ondo state capital.

    The aspirant who is the former Vice- Chairman,Idanre local government under late Dr Olusegun Agagu’s PDP’s administration, said” I admire the political structure massively built by Tinubu and his investment in human capacity through which many people rose to higher level.

    Read Also: Group hails Tinubu for direct primary

    “Since I left Nigeria over a decade ago, I have been watching with keen interest the progressive traits of the APC stalwart (Tinubu) in area of improving the lives of the masses”.

    The National Assembly Aspirant lamented that Idanre/Ifedore federal constituency presently occupied by Bamidele Baderinwa (White)have been denied good representation at the lower chamber in Abuja due to alleged low performance.

    He assured his constituents that if elected, he would liberate his constituents through various empowerment programmes that would transform their lives.

    Ayodeji noted that the gale of defections from APC to PDP would not affect the victory of the ruling party in 2019, stressing that those who moved out of the party were formerly in the PDP and nothing has changed.

    He encouraged politicians against spending huge amount of money to aspire for political positions, stressing that the development was aiding low performance of political office holders.

    The Idanre-born politician pointed out that the lawmakers that returned to their former party (PDP) had ulterior motive which was based on selfish interest rather than that of the masses they were to represent.

  • ‘PDP is dead in Abia State’

    The immediate past General Manager of Abia State Environmental Protection Agency (ASEPA), Martin Ikechukwu Apugo has said that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is dead in Abia state and will never resurrect for any reason.

    Apugo said that the PDP has caused a lot of harm to the people of the state in the past twenty years they have been in power with misrule and that the people are tired of their bad successive governments.

    Speaking in Umuahia while declaring his intention to run for the seat of member representing Ikwuano/Umuahia federal constituency at the House of Representatives, Apugo said that time has come for PDP to be voted out during the 2019 elections.

    Apugo said that his desire to run for the House of Representatives is borne of the zeal to give the people of the constituency vibrant and quality representation which they have been missing over the years.

    The former ASEPA boss said that he is coming out after many visits by different groups asking him to come out and lend a helping hand before they die of bad and misfit leaders who have been misrepresenting them for years.

    He said, “Several groups came to me asking me to come out and save them from misrule and I told them that I am not interested but they kept coming for over three times which made me to consult before accepting their request”.

    Apugo continued, “I am not going there to make money as I have what I am doing which has been taking my time, everybody knows that I run a football academy which has not been easy, so going to the House of Representatives is to serve my people”.

    “Those who have been there before have always said that there is no money there and yet they want to return for a second and third term, if there is nothing there why are they so bent on going back for another term”.

    The former environmental boss said that when he gets there that the people of the constituency will see the difference as he is going to empower them with tangible things outside tricycle, wheel barrows and such which others before him had been giving them.

    Read Also: Democracy is on trial in Abia state – Ikpeazu

    Apugo who expressed surprise at the large turnout of people for his declaration said, “We have been unlucky with those who had gone to the green chamber before me, as they end up pocketing monies meant for constituency projects”.

    He said, “They use the monies to build mansions that their great grandchildren will not fully accommodate or establishing businesses outside our state, for these we are saying enough is enough”,

    “It is against this background that I am offering myself to serve our people at the House of Representatives for the good people of Ikwuano/Umuahia federal constituency, as their plight gives me concern”.

    Apugo noted that he is qualified to represent his people in all aspects including equity, saying that there are five state constituencies in Ikwuano/Umuahia federal constituency and only his zone Umuahia East has never been to the lower chamber of the National Assembly.

    He said, “This is why it has become necessary that all lovers of peace, justice, equity and fairness should support my ambition so that representing our people would have gone round the five state constituencies in our area”.

    The high point of the occasion was the declaration of the entire executive members of the PDP Ugba Ibeku Ward 1 of Umuahia North who was led by their chairman, Henry Nwaobiala and all member of welding association of Umuahia.

    The occasion was attended by many party stalwarts including governorship aspirants including Amb. Okey Emuchay and Dr Sampson Uche Ogah who was represented and Abia Central senatorial district aspirant senator Nkechi Nwogu who was also represented among others.

  • ‘National Assembly should not be a retiring home for governors’

    An aspirant to the northern senatorial district seat of Cross River State, Comrade Godwin Nyiam, has said the Senate should not serve a place for governors to retire to after their tenures in their various states.

    Nyiam, who intends to pursue his ambition on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), said the senate is supposed to be a place for vibrant people with the capacity to bring good governance to their constituents, not for those who have exhausted their ideas.

    “Unfortunately, in Nigeria, the National Assembly has become an office for past and immediate past Governors who are supposed to have joined the retirees club because they no longer have something in stock to offer to their people,” he said.

    The senatorial hopeful called on the electorates not to vote past governors but instead vote people fresh people with fresh ideas to enable them make laws that can improve the fortunes of the country.

    Read Also: ‘National Assembly playing hungry throat politics’

    “I see myself as a young person with capacity to perform, given the fact that I haven’t stolen money from anywhere to make it possible for operatives of the Economic and Financial Commission EFCC to chase me about to make me lose focus. This will make me function well. It is not all about money or god-fatherism, but about the passion for the service,” he said.

    Nyiam said he would sponsor bills that would be not just relevant to his constituency but to the entire country if he successfully gets to the Senate.

    “The National Assembly should not be a place for retirees, but a place for researchers. Readers are leaders. Why don’t we look at what is happening in developed nations of the world, instead of sending people who were supposed to join the retirees club to go make laws for us. Sending such retirees to represent the people in the legislature negatively impacts on the socio-political economy of the nation,” Nyiam said.

  • PDP to APC: Your resort to blackmail can’t sway Nigerians

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has told the All Progressives Congress (APC) that its resort to blackmail, twisting of facts and fabrications cannot sway Nigerians from the truth of their culpability in the current impasse at the National Assembly.

    The PDP said Nigerians are already aware of how the APC has been frustrating the National Assembly by creating hitches, illegal impeachment processes, physical blockade of access to the parliament and besieging of the official residence of Senate President and his deputy.

    A statement on Friday by the spokesman of the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan said Nigerians know those who set security agents after federal legislators, set parliamentarians against one another and those who have been chasing lawmakers around the country with tons of money as bribe, just to illegally change the leadership.

    The statement said, “We are not amazed that the APC, in its characteristic shambolic denials, will turn around to point accusing fingers at our repositioned party and members for the situation in the National Assembly, when the echoes of their open threats, tantrums, verbosity and loquaciousness against our legislators are yet to evaporate from the public space.

    Read Also: PDP having sleepless nights over Buhari’s achievements – APC

    “The APC is pretending not to remember that the Buhari Presidency deliberately kept the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) budget submitted to it since February till July when it presented it to the National Assembly and curiously demanded that the fund be vired from the constituency project fund of lawmakers.

    “Nigerians will recall that as a patriotic and responsible party, the PDP raised the flag and pointed out that bringing the budget in July, at the time the National Assembly was already going on annual vacation, was rather late and asking that the fund be vired from constituency project fund was sinking

    The INEC budget and the entire 2019 electoral process in a needless controversy. The APC and the Buhari Presidency ignored this wise counseling.

    “Furthermore, the APC in it deception fails to note that Nigerians are aware that it is President Buhari that is holding the nation to ransom by refusing to sign the Electoral Act Amendment bill, already passed by the National Assembly, just because the amendment checked the machination which APC intend to deploy to rig the 2019 general elections.

    “Moreover, relevant National Assembly committees have been having interface with INEC over the budget presented by the President. Except for the sinister intent of the APC to shut down our National Assembly and bring forth a totalitarian system of government, there is nothing deserving of the wailing of the APC to reopen the chambers of the National Assembly at its instance. The rules for reconvening the chambers of the National Assembly are extant.

    “Also, since the PDP told its members to rise in defense of democracy and stop the rigging and vote buying of the APC, the ruling party has gone hysterical and making all manners of spurious and diversionary allegations, but it will be instructive for the APC to accept that it has failed Nigerians and the people have resolved to vote them out, come February, 2019”.