The Nation Newspaper

Tag: YDP

  • Committal hearing against INEC chairman for Friday

    For allegedly disobeying a valid court order, the Young Democratic Party (YDP) has asked the Federal High Court in Lagos to commit Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman Prof Mahmoud Yakubu to prison.

    The party alleged Yakubu refused to recognise its leader Henry Nwabueze as Acting National Chairman.

    The case will come up for hearing before Justice Ayokunle Faji Friday.

    YDP filed Form 49 against the alleged contemnor inviting him to appear and show cause why he should not be sent to prison for refusing to comply with a November 29, 2018 judgment by Justice Faji.

    The Form 49 reads: “Take notice that the defendant will on a date as approved by the Court apply for an order for your committal to prison for having disobeyed the judgment of the Federal High Court by Justice A.O. Faji made on 29th November 2018 enjoining you to recognise the second defendant as the Acting National Chairman, Hon. Henry Nwabueze, of the Young Democratic Party and thereby neglected to obey the said judgment”.

    Relying on the case of John Ebhodaghe vs Mike Okoye, the applicant’s counsel Yemi Akinyeme said an order of committal against Yakubu would be proper and deserving given that he was granted adequate notice to comply with the order.

    Read Also; INEC releases final list of candidates for 2019 general elections

    Quoting former Supreme Court Justice, the late Niki Tobi, the lawyer said obedience to orders of court is fundamental to the good order, peace and stability of the nation.

    He, therefore, asked the court to cite the INEC chairman for contempt as provided by Order 35 Rule1 (2) (b) of the Civil Procedure Rules of the court.

    The applicant’s counsel further cited Section 72 of the Sheriff’s and Civil Process Act: “If a person refuses or neglects to comply with an order of court made against him other than for payment of money, the court instead of dealing with him as a judgment debtor guilty of the misconduct defined in paragraph F of Section 66 of the Act, may order that he be committed to prison and detained in custody until he has obeyed the order.”

  • YDP seeks de-registration of YPP

    The Young Democratic Party (YDP) has asked the Federal High Court in Abuja to void the registration by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of Young Progressives Party (YPP), saying its name is similar to its own.

    The suit, with YDP and its Acting National Secretary, Iliyasu Mohammed Makaye (as plaintiffs), has INEC, its Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, YPP and it’s National Chairman, Bishop Emmanuel Amakiri as defendant.

    The plaintiffs alleged that INEC breached Section 82(2)(a)(b)(c) of the 2010 Electoral Act (as amended) by registering YPP with “a similar acronym with YDP,  being an existing political party.”

    They want the court to declare the registration of YPP by INEC as unlawful, void and of no legal effect for non-compliance with provisions of the 2010 Electoral Act as amended.

    The plaintiffs urged the court to declare that the act of  registering YPP by the INEC and Yakubu was deliberate and aimed at frustrating their progress.

    In a supporting affidavit deposed to by YDP’s National Deputy Organising Secretary South, Nwachi Francis Nnali, the plaintiffs stated that the 2nd defendant ( Amakiri) was once a National Youth leader under the umbrella of YDP and was suspended and subsequently expelled from the party for anti-party activities.

    They accused INEC of conniving with Amakiri in registering YPP and alleged that INEC is aware that the 2nd defendant was expelled from YDP, because INEC was formally notified of the development.

  • 15 parties back restructuring

    At least 15 political parties on the platform of the Coalition for New Nigeria (CNN) have expressed support for the restructuring of the country.

    CNN’s National Chairman, Alhaji Abdulkadir Abdulsalam, who disclosed this on Monday in Abuja, said the coalition was determined to chart a new course for the country.

    According to him, CNN is committed to the unity, indivisibility and progress of Nigeria.

    He said the vision of the coalition was a new Nigeria that would be secure and prosperous through effective governance.

    Abdulsalam said: “Our goal will be to create jobs for all those who want to work and economic opportunity for all to achieve.

    “Our immediate task will be to strive to heal the wounds of the past through reclamation, reconciliation and reformation.

    “We are committed to the economic, political and internal restructuring of Nigeria as well as empowering of our youths, women and persons with disability through well-articulated policies toward a better Nigeria.”

    He said CNN would engage in a holistic fight against corruption with the sole aim of abolishing hunger and poverty.

    The CNN national chairman said the coalition looks forward to a government that would undertake economic renovation and reforms capable of transforming the country into a leading industrial giant.

    The 15 political parties in the coalition are – Labour Party (LP), African Democratic Congress (ADC), National Action Council (NAC), Democratic People’s Congress (DPC), Progressive People’s Alliance (PPA), People for Democratic Change (PDC) and Democratic Alternative (DA).

    Others are – Better Nigeria Progressive Party (BNPP), Action Alliance (AA), United Democratic Party (UDP), Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN), Advanced Congress of Democrats (ACD), Young Democratic Party (YDP) and Mega Progressive Peoples Party (MPPP).

    NAN

  • YDP: Appeal Court begins committal proceedings against INEC Chairman

    THE Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal has begun committal proceedings against Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman Prof. Mahmud Yakubu for disobeying its judgment directing the commission to issue a certificate of registration to Young Democratic Party (YDP) as a registered political party as at May 2, 2015.
    Form 49 has already been issued against the INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu by the appellate court asking him to show cause why an order of committal to prison should not be made against him.
    The party is pressing for an order committing Yakubu to prison for refusing or neglecting to obey the order of the Court of Appeal dated December 8, 2015, affirming and confirming the judgement of the trial court delivered on March 4, 2015 and dismissing the appeal by the electoral body.
    The court has fixed June 19, to hear the committal proceedings against the INEC Chairman.

  • Edo poll: Tribunal throws out YDP petition

    The Edo State Election Petitions Tribunal on Thursday threw out one of the petitions filed by the Young Democratic Party and its governorship candidate, Nurudeen Inwanfero, for abuse of court process.

     

    It said the YDP failed to comply with paragraph 29 of the Electoral Act by filling the necessary application before the tribunal seeking to discontinue with the first petition it filed.

     

    Candidate of the YDP, Nurudeen Inwanfero, had in his petition asked the tribunal to cancel the entire September 28election because the party’s logo was not included in the ballot papers used for the election.

     

    The petitioners filed petitions number one and three and it filed notice of discontinue for petition number one but the tribunal held that filing of petition number three was abuse of court process.

     

    Ruling on the application filed by Governor Godwin Obaseki through his lead Counsel, Lateef Fagbemi, the three-man panel earlier granted leave of the respondent to argue the application outside the pre-hearing session.

     

    Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Ahmed Badamasi, who read the ruling said it was clear that there are two same petitions from the petitioners before the tribunal.

     

    Justice Badamasi held that there was nothing to show that the notice of discontinuous was filed by the petitioners and described it as vague and incompetence.

     

    Badamasi therefore struck out petition number three and all pending applications against the petition.

     

    Attempts by the petitioners’ Counsel, Ugo Nwofor, to request for adjournment to enable him put his ‘House in order’ rejected by the respondents’ Counsels.

     

    Nwofor stated that it was in the interest of justice for the tribunal to grant the adjournment to allow him time put things together in respect of petition number one.

     

    Olanipekun urged the tribunal to remove the life support on the petition as there was no application for extension of time before the tribunal.

     

    Justice Badamasi adjourned sitting to December 13 for ruling on whether petition number one still has merit.

  • Kogi: CNPP cautions Wada on litigation

    Kogi: CNPP cautions Wada on litigation

    The Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) Kogi State chapter has urged the Governor Idris Wada to promptly rescind the proposed court litigation against the Alhaji Yahaya Bello’s election.

    This they said will enable the governor-elect enjoy a smooth take off with his administration, next year.

    This was contained in a statement jointly signed by the state chairman, Alhaji Abdanis Abubakar Ibrahim and the secretary, Ilyas Badanga, copies of which were made available to newsmen in Lokoja Tuesday.

    They stated that the call had become imperative, in order to have a pleasant transition period and for the benefit of an inclusive government that would be mutually beneficial to all and sundry.

    The CNPP also commended the measures taken so far by Wada administration towards smooth transition of governance.

    The Kogi CNPP which comprises of ADC, DPC, DPP, ID, KOWA, NCP, PDM, UPP and YDP, all of which contested the governorship election in the state appealed to Hon. James  Abiodun Faleke, the deputy governor-elect to shift ground and allow for a synergy that will put the name of both executive leaders in the sand of history among the patriots.

    It added: “CNPP hereby challenge Hon. James Faleke to hournor the people’s clarion call to him to offer his leadership services in compliance with the party’s interest.

    “Disputations and litigations will only deafen his sensibilities against the will of the people now that matters most. Please Honourable come and join hands with the peoples administration.”

  • New party seeks another poll shift

    Following Wednesday’s Federal High Court’s judgment, ordering the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to include the Young Democratic Party (YDP) on the election ballot papers, the party has called on the commission to accommodate it or re-schedule the general election.

    Stating its position in Abuja after an emergency meeting on Thursday, the party said the court had ordered INEC to issue it a certificate and include YDP among the parties contesting the elections.

    The National Publicity Secretary of YDP, Barr. Ugo Nwofor, said INEC has no option than to reprint its ballot papers to accommodate its candidates for the various elective positions.

    Nwafor said: “If INEC does not have the appropriation for logistics for re-printing of its ballot papers, then INEC ought to within the constitutional provision further re-schedule the general election so as to accommodate our party.

    “In either of the two options, our party is ready, it has been a long journey for YDP. We wish INEC would explore the first option.”

    He stated further that in compliance with Sections 85 and 87 of the Electoral Act, the party has fixed it governorship/House of Assembly and Presidential and National Assembly primaries for March 26 and 27 respectively.

    According to him, the party has approved sales of nomination forms as follows – Presidential (N15million), governorship (N3million), Senate (N1million), House of Representatives (N500,000) and House of Assembly (200,000).

    “As a gender friendly party, the nomination forms for women in all categories is free, except for a processing fee of N100,000,” Nwafor stated.

    He described the court’s judgment as victory for democracy, rule of law and triumph over impunity.