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Tag: Senator Lawal Shuaibu

  • APC state chairmen pass vote of confidence in Oshiomhole

    The State Chairmen of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have passed a vote of confidence in the party’s National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole.

    They described what they called “public disparagement of the party’s national chairman as unconscionable distraction borne out of complete misconception of the reforms and specifically, the principle of loyalty to the party.”

    The party’s National Deputy Chairman (North), Senator Lawal Shuaibu, had accused Oshiomhole of running a one-man show, calling on his to step aside.

    Shuaibu alleged that the fortune of the ruling party dipped under the watch of Oshiomhole as the chairmen and therefore no longer fit to lead.

    But, the state chairmen yesterday pledged their support for the former Edo State governor.

    In a communique at the end of a meeting between the state chairmen and the National Working Committee (NWC), the state chapter chairmen said they were opposed to calls on Oshiomhole to resign, restating their  support for the national chairman’ reformatory effort.

    Read Also: Adams Oshiomole: Victim of reactionary forces

    The communique was signed by 20 state chairmen of the party, cutting across the geo-political zones.

    It reads: “That Comrade Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole stepped into the saddle in June last year and hit the ground running by embarking on sweeping reforms that centered on party discipline and supremacy. He galvanised and led the NWC with commitment and sharp focus on greater philosophical ideals of rebuilding the party and raising the party another notch.

    “In line with his credo of fairness to leadership and membership of the party, the NWC, under his leadership, ensured a level-play field in the primary elections that largely returned the party to the people (general membership).

    “He led the NWC with a single purpose of dismantling the culture of impunity and imposition of anointed candidates at the expense of the vast majority of party members by some overbearing state governors.

    “Oshiomhole provided leadership that encouraged the APC candidates to go into the 2019 general election with assurance and great hope. Realising the pains and strains that usually accompany reforms and change, we are satisfied with the level of success that our party achieved under the Oshiomhole-inspired reforms.

    ”We are proud with the leadership provided by the national chairman in the recent election of principal officers of the National Assembly, where he ensured the emergence of Senator Ahmed Lawan and Femi Gbajabiamila as Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives respectively. You said it will happen and you worked hard to achieve it. Kudos Mr. Chairman.

    “We believe the best is ahead of our party and that all hands must be on deck to ensure that we incrementally build on the solid foundations of reforms that have brought about discipline, party supremacy and put the party directly in the hands of the people

    “Flowing from the above, we consider the public disparagement of our national chairman by anyone or group as unconscionable distraction borne out of complete misconception of the reforms and specifically, the principle of loyalty to the party.

    “We denounce calls on Comrade Adams Oshiomhole to resign; and that, we solidly support Comrade Oshiomhole’s afore-mentioned reformatory effort. We endorse Comrade Adams Oshiomhole’s leadership and hereby pass a vote of confidence in him.”

  • 2019: 54 parties sign code of conduct

    …PDP shuns signing

     

    Ahead of the 2019 general elections, registered political parties in the country have adopted and signed the reverse code of conduct for political parties to guide their operations before, during and after the conduct of the general elections.

    The adoption and signing was witnessed by the National Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in charge of Election and Party Monitoring, Prof. Anthonia Okorie-Simbine after a two day workshop on the validation of the code organised by the Political Parties Leadership and Policy Development Centre of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS).

    While the Deputy National Chairman (North) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Lawal Shuaibu led 54 other political parties to sign the reversed code, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) led the 14 parties that were conspicuously absent at the event.

    Read Also:2019 elections: Buratai warns soldiers against partisan politics

    Speaking at the signing ceremony, Prof. Okoosi-Simbine who represented the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu assured the parties of the commitment of the Commission to ensure a level playing field for all political parties in the conduct of elections in the country.

    Prof. Simbine said INEC remains committed to strengthening its internal systems and providing a level playing Field for all political parties and candidates by ensuring the sustenance of a credible electoral environment.

    She said further that Political Parties as principal actors in the electoral environment will no doubt play a significant roles towards the success of the 2019 General Elections and beyond.

    According to her, “it is vital that political party leaders take their commitment to the code of conduct beyond the official signing of the document by translating the provisions of the code to visible actions that impact positively towards sustaining and enhancing the gains of Nigeria’s democratic evolution.

    “By contributing to and signing the code of conduct, political parties have indeed committed to a pact with Nigerians that their activities will, going forward, be consistent with international best practices and enhance the confidence of citizens in our evolving democratic culture.”

    Prof. Simbine said INEC has been a significant partner at various stages of the evolution and development of the code of conduct with the technical and financial support of international development partners, particularly the UNDP/DGD project first, and now the European Center for Electoral Support (ECES).

    She stressed that “Although the principal objective of having a code of conduct for political parties was centered on the need to have a set of mutually agreed and acceptable behaviour and best practices that guide the conduct of political parties, their candidates and supporters, before, during and after elections, the code also became the instrument for the establishment of the Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC) which without doubt, now plays a significant role as the umbrella body of all registered political parties.

    “It is in this context that the Commission has remained committed to both encouraging political parties to abide by the tenants of the code of conduct as well as actively support the activities of IPAC towards attaining the ideal electoral environment that is characterized by a general commitment of all stakeholders to the entrenchment of free, fair and credible elections in Nigeria.”

    She asked the political parties to use the umbrella of IPAC to exert peer pressure for the adoption of best practices in key areas including the promotion of internal democracy, provision of expanded roles for disadvantaged social groups particularly Women, the Youth and Persons living with disabilities, as well as deliberate commitment by leaders of political parties to the rule of law and strict compliance with the provisions of respective political party constitutions.

    The code of conduct sets the parameters of acceptable behavior for political parties, their candidates and their supporters throughout the electoral cycle.

     

  • APC chieftain sues Odigie-Oyegun over tenure extension

    APC chieftain sues Odigie-Oyegun over tenure extension

    …‘Ruling party must not circumvent its rules’

     

    An aggrieved All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, Dr. Wale Ahmed, has taken the national chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, to court over what he described as an illegal extension of his tenure.

    Ahmed, a party stalwart from Lagos, said the ruling party has violated its rules and guiding principle on periodic national convention as stipulated by its constitution.

    The embattled chairman, Odigie-Oyegun, was elected chairman in June 2014 for a four year tenure, which had expires in June.

    The plaintiff said the chairman and other members of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party were given illegal anticipatory tenure elongation to enable them put the national convention in abeyance, without due consideration for the APC constitution and 1999 Constitution.

    According to the Section 223 (1a) and (2a), of the 1999 Constitution, “the constitution and rules of a political party shall provide for the periodic election on a democratic basis of the principal officer and members of the executive committee or other governing body of the political party.”

    Also, “the election of the officers or members of the executive committee of a political party shall be deemed to be periodical only if it is made at regular intervals not exceeding four years.”

    According to the APC Constitution (2014 as amended), “all officers of the party elected or appointed into the party’s organs shall serve in such organs for a period of four years and shall be eligible for re-election or re-appointment for another period of four years only, provided that an officer elected or appointed to fill a vacancy arising from death, resignation or otherwise shall notwithstanding be eligible for election to the same office for two terms.”

    Joined in the suit No. FHC/L/CS/364/18 before the Federal High Court, Lagos Division, are the Deputy National Chairman (South), Chief Segun Oni, Deputy National Chairman (North), Senator Lawal Shuaibu, National Secretary Mallam Ibrahim Gubi, National Vice Chairman (Southwest) Chief Pius Akinyelure, the APC and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    Ahmed is praying the court to declare as null and void and of now effect the purported elongation of the tenure of the NEC, contrary to the extant laws.

    In the originating summons taken by his counsel, B.A.M Fashanu (SAN), the plaintiff is claiming that the defendants, jointly or severally, have erred in law. His prayers include:

    “A declaration that the first to sixth defendants have no power under the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,  1999, to extend the tenure of the elected organs/officers beyond four years from their election /inauguration

    “A declaration that the purported extension of the tenure of the extant National Working Committee (NWC) and /or other executive committees or their members of the All Progressives Congress at various levels for another 12 months from June 30, 2018 by the National Executive Committee of or by the All Progressives Congress, is illegal, null and void and of no effect

    “A declaration that any provision of the sixth defendant’s constitution or any memorandum, circular or pronouncement of the first to sixth defendants purporting to extend the tenure of the first to fifth defendants beyond their extant elected or inaugurated four year tenure is in conflict or is inconsistent with the provision of Section 223(1) (a) and  223 (2) (a) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 and is null and void to the extent of its inconsistency.

    “An injunction restraining the first to sixth defendants, their servants and/or agents, from taking any steps to implement the purported tenure elongation of the presently elected/constituted organs/officers of the All Progressives Congress, which pronouncement or decision was made on or about the 27th of February, 2018, or in any manner howsoever, stay in office beyond four years from the date of their election/inauguration.

    “An injunction restraining the seventh defendant, its servants and /or agents, from recognising the decision or any decision of the first to sixth defendants to extend the tenure of the sixth defendant’s extant elected organs/officers beyond their elected/constituted four years, or, taking any step, in any manner howsoever, to implement such decision.”

    Ahmed, a former member of House of Assembly and one-time Commissioner for Special Duties said he went to court to protect the image of the ruling party and the sanctity of the constitution.

    He said the APC should, through its convention, create a level playing field for all qualified members of the party who may wish to contest for any party office at the convention when the tenure of the executive committee expires in June.

    Ahmed added: “We must avoid a situation whereby a dangerous precedent will be laid by the deliberate violation of party constitution, rules and regulations on leadership recruitment and renewal of tenure. Our party is known for its avowed commitment to the rule of law, the due process and the constitution. We must obey our own laws and respect the constitution of the country.”

    Crisis had hit the APC, following the purported tenure elongation for the NEC and the NWC, following their Abuja meeting of January 26 and 27.

    While Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello told reporters that the NEC had granted one year tenure elongation to the Odigie-Oyegun-led NWC, his Zamfara State counterpart and Chairman of the APC Governors’ Forum, Abdulaziz Yari, said the NEC lacked the power to extend the tenure, adding that the power of the Convention to extend the tenure can only be exercised only by way of constitutional amendment.

    He stressed: “The power of the NEC of our party cannot go beyond doing so by way of constitution amendment. Article 30 of the APC Constitution and the schedules hereto, can be amended only by the National Convention of the party.

    “The process of amending the constitution is also expressly provided in Article 30 Sub-Section 2. This states: “Notice of any proposed amendment by any member or organ of the party shall be given to the National Secretary, at least, 14 days before the date of the National Convention. The Notice shall be in writing, shall contain a clear statement of the proposed amendment and reasons for the amendment.”

    Read Also: Odigie-Oyegun: APC NWC tenure extension in good fate

  • Budget padding: We won’t sanction Dogara, Jubrin – APC

    Budget padding: We won’t sanction Dogara, Jubrin – APC

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has ruled out the possibility of sanctioning the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara and the former Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriation, Abdulmuminin Jibrin over allegations of budget padding.

    The APC  Deputy National Chairman (North), Senator Lawal Shuaibu, told journalists in Abuja that although the party constitution empowers the party to take certain steps on the matter, it will not play the role of a law enforcement agency.

    He said, “Article 7 subsection 5 of APC Constitution gives us the power to do certain things. So, you see, what we are doing is the right thing. But only we don’t want that in the public gallery.”

    While ruling out the possibility of imposing sanction on the feuding duo, Shuaibu added, “what is padding? The party does not sanction anybody on that. What is of concern to us is where any member contravenes the party constitution in his conduct.

    “That is why I refer you to Article 7, subsection 5 of our party constitution. We are not a law enforcement organisation. We don’t enforce law. We only ensure that the constitution is complied with. All members of the party are answerable to the party and answerable to their constituency.

    “The two members that are subjected to this are elected or appointed members of the party including those that are holding public office. So, you expect the party to sit down and watch. No. We have to do our work. So, the question of sweeping anything under the carpet does not arise at all. But we don’t want to do it in the market place, but at the party secretariat.”